The NWT government says this year’s senior home heating subsidy is being expanded so more people can access it. Here are the rules the GNWT set out on Wednesday.
The first big change, according to the territory, is a new income threshold of $90,000.
The GNWT says the old rules set different thresholds ranging from $66,000 to $87,000 in different parts of the territory. (If your annual household income is above the threshold, you can’t apply.)
Now, the territory stated in a news release, “seniors in any zone with a household income of $90,000 or less are eligible.”
Monthly subsidy amounts have also gone up for all three zones, the territory said.
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Home heating costs differ depending on which part of the NWT you live in. While the income threshold is now the same across the territory, that regional difference will be reflected in the monthly subsidy you can get.
If you live in:
- Behchokǫ̀, Dettah, Enterprise, Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Kátł’odeeche First Nation, Kakisa, Ndılǫ or Yellowknife, you get $530 per month;
- Fort Liard, Fort Resolution, Gamètì, Inuvik, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Whatì or Wrigley, you get $685 per month;
- Aklavik, Colville Lake, Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Łútsël K’é, Norman Wells, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Sambaa K’e, Tsiigehtchic, Tuktoyaktuk, Tulita, Ulukhaktok or Wekweètì, you get $1,090 per month.
Those work out to totals of $4,240, $5,480 or $8,720 across the winter season, depending on your community.
Monthly payments run until April. They actually began in September – the GNWT said on Wednesday it will “begin processing adjustments following the announcement [of the new rules] and will work to issue retroactive payments as quickly as possible.”
If you have previously applied for this year’s subsidy, even if you were rejected because of your household income, the GNWT says your application will be automatically reviewed and adjustments made. If you haven’t applied before, you can start the process via the GNWT’s website.
The deadline to apply is March 15, 2027.
