HARP at a glance for 2026-27
We read the Province of Nova Scotia's HARP pages on October 3, 2026. Each card shows the date we last checked and links to the source. If the Province changes the amount or the dates, we change it here.
Rebate amount
One rebate per household for the 2026-27 heating season. It does not matter what fuel you heat with, as long as you pay for it yourself.
Application window
Apply online, or mail a paper form postmarked no later than March 31, 2027. There is no cost to apply.
How long it takes
Longer if the program needs more papers from you, or if a part of the form is missing.
Who qualifies for HARP
You must pay for your own home heat. Then you need to meet one of these:
- You live alone with no kids or dependents, and your 2025 net income was $30,000 or less.
- You live with kids, dependents or other adults, and your combined 2025 net household income was $45,000 or less. A single parent needs to get the Canada Child Benefit to count as a family.
- You get Income Assistance from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development.
- You get the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance from Service Canada.
Net income is line 23600 on your 2025 tax return. If your life changed a lot since you filed your 2025 taxes, for example a job loss or a death in the family, you may still qualify. The Province asks you to call Service Nova Scotia about that.
What heating counts, and what does not
Almost any fuel counts: heating oil, electric heat, natural gas, wood, wood pellets, coal and others. What does not count:
- Heat that is included in your rent.
- Electric use under 5,000 kWh a year. A home that uses less than that is not treated as electrically heated.
- Heat for a rental you own, a cottage or other seasonal place, or a business.
Renters who pay their own electric heat can apply. You will need your landlord to fill in the Landlord Declaration Form. If you cut your own firewood, there is a Firewood Declaration Form, and a Wood Invoice Form if you bought wood with no receipt.
How to check your HARP status
If you applied online, you can check your status on the Province's status page. You need two things: the confirmation number you got when you applied, and your postal code. The status tells you if your application was received or approved.
If you mailed a paper form, the online status check will not find you. Call the program instead. Keep a copy of what you mailed and the date you sent it.
Most people get paid 8 to 10 weeks after they apply. If it has been longer, look for an email or letter asking for a heating bill or another paper. Your file stops until you send it.
When the $400 is paid
There is no single payment date for everyone. Each rebate is paid when that application is approved, about 8 weeks after it is complete. If your income tax refund goes to your bank by direct deposit, your HARP rebate does too. If not, a cheque comes in the mail. Online applicants get an email just before the deposit lands.
One warning from the Province: Service Nova Scotia will never text or email you asking for banking details or asking you to click a link to get your rebate. That message is a scam, even if it uses the HARP name.
Avoid the most common delay
The program may ask for a heating bill or receipt, and it cannot process your file until you send it. The Province suggests adding one when you apply if this is your first time, if you moved since your last rebate, or if you live in a building with more than one unit. The bill must show your name and address, the date, what you bought, what it cost, and who sold it. For electric heat, a Nova Scotia Power bill works.
Every adult in the home must sign the form, and you need each adult's Social Insurance Number and date of birth.
Cut next winter's bill too
HARP helps with one winter. If your home is costly to heat, Nova Scotia also has programs that lower the bill for good. HomeWarming gives free upgrades like insulation, draft-proofing and sometimes a heat pump to lower-income homeowners. Efficiency Nova Scotia's Home Energy Assessment can pay up to $5,000 toward upgrades for any homeowner, and the Moderate Income Rebate can add up to $5,000 more. A home with electric baseboards can also get a smart thermostat installed for free. See our Nova Scotia rebate guide for every open program, or our Halifax and Cape Breton heat pump pages.
How to apply for HARP, step by step
- Find your 2025 net income (line 23600 on your Notice of Assessment) for every adult in your home.
- Have each adult's Social Insurance Number and date of birth ready, plus an email address if you apply online.
- Get a recent heating bill or receipt, and the Landlord or Firewood Declaration Form if it applies to you.
- Apply online on the Province's HARP page, or print the paper form, fill in both sides, and mail it by March 31, 2027.
- Save your confirmation number. You need it, with your postal code, to check your status online.
Guides
Common questions
How much is the Nova Scotia heating rebate for 2026-27?
$400 per household. That is the same as last winter. You can apply from October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
How do I check my HARP rebate status?
Go to the Province's status page and enter your application confirmation number and your postal code. This only works if you applied online. If you mailed a paper form, call the program.
When will I get my HARP payment?
About 8 to 10 weeks after your complete application is received. It goes to your bank if your tax refund is direct deposited, or comes as a cheque if not. There is no one date for everyone.
Can I get HARP if I rent?
Yes, if you pay for your own heat. Heat included in your rent does not count. Renters with electric heat need the Landlord Declaration Form.
Is HARP the same as a heat pump rebate?
No. HARP is $400 cash toward this winter's heating bill. Heat pump rebates come from Efficiency Nova Scotia and HomeWarming and pay toward new equipment. You can get both.
Do I have to apply again every year?
Yes. Each winter is a new application, and your income is checked against the latest tax year, which is 2025 for this winter.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 3, 2026: Apply for HARP (Province of Nova Scotia), Check your HARP status, HARP program and forms, CRA line 23600, net income. All rebate programs →