The NWT government says it’s increasing the home heating subsidy paid to seniors. The increase amounts to between $480 and $1,400 per year, depending on where you live.
The program provides financial help to seniors whose incomes fall below a certain threshold.
That threshold is also changing this year. It’s being increased, which the GNWT said will mean more seniors qualify for the payments.
How you’re affected is tied to which of three zones you live in.
Zone 1: Behchokǫ̀, Dettah, Enterprise, Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Kátł’odeeche First Nation, Kakisa, Ndılǫ, Yellowknife
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In zone one, the income threshold has gone up from $56,000 to $66,000. That means if you have an income below $66,000, you can access the home heating subsidy.
The payment you get from the subsidy is going up from $3,000 to $3,680 per year.
Zone 2: Fort Liard, Fort Resolution, Gametì, Inuvik, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Whatì, Wrigley
In zone two, the threshold has gone up from $64,000 to $75,000 and the payment is going up from $4,000 to $4,480.
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Zone 3: Aklavik, Colville Lake, Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Łutselk’e, Norman Wells, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Saamba K’e, Tsiigehtchic, Tuktoyaktuk, Tulita, Ulukhaktok, and Wekweètì
In zone three, the threshold has gone up from $73,000 to $87,000 and the payment is going up from $4,600 to $6,000.
There’s more information on the GNWT’s website. You need to apply to get the subsidy, although if you’ve already applied for 2025-26 you don’t need to reapply now that things have changed.
The GNWT referred to this week’s changes as a “permanent increase.” In the recent past, the territory has announced one-off increases that were designed to offset rising heating costs but weren’t guaranteed beyond a single winter.
