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More cash for low-income households to help with energy costs
27/09/2022
The money will go to those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction
More cash is on the way to local people on low incomes to help with the cost of living crisis. Discretionary energy payments will start to land in their bank accounts in the coming days.
The cash comes from central government and is being distributed by Cherwell District Council.
People don’t need to apply for the money as it will be paid automatically using the bank account details connected to their Council Tax accounts. Eligible households who don’t pay by direct debit will see the money added to their Council Tax accounts as credits.
Earlier this year Cherwell distributed over £5.5m in £150 energy rebates.
This latest discretionary energy payment is being made to people in band A to D properties who receive Council Tax Reduction. They will now receive a £30 top-up in addition to the £150 they have already received. People living in a band E property who get disabled band reduction will also receive this payment.
In addition anyone in bands E to H properties who receive Council Tax Reduction will now receive £180. They weren’t eligible for the initial £150 payment.
Councillor Adam Nell, Portfolio Holder for Finance, said: “This new round of payments follows on from the £150 Council Tax rebates many households received earlier in the year.
“The idea is that low-income households in bands A – D who receive Council Tax Reduction get that rebate topped up by a further £30 to a total of £180. If you are in bands E – F you won’t have received the initial £150 so you will get the £180 in one single payment.
“We’re distributing over £219,000 to these two groups and if they pay their Council Tax by direct debit it will reach their bank accounts this week. We are acutely aware of the pressure that the increasing cost of living is placing on low-income households and I hope that these payments help towards alleviating that for people on lower incomes in our area.”
Council Tax payers who don’t already receive Council Tax Reduction but think they may be entitled to it can find out more and apply on the council website here.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam