Households in Wales to get £150 to help with the rising cost of living

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People living in properties within the council tax bands of A to D will receive a £150 from the Welsh Government to help them with the rising cost of living.

The payment will also be made to those who get discounted bills through a council tax reduction scheme.

The Welsh Government said the £150 payment will be made as soon as possible and that it will work with councils to do so. An additional £200 will also be paid to low-income households through the Winter Fuel Payment next winter.

The Winter Fuel Support Scheme remains open in this financial year and applications must be received by a local council by 28 February.

Around £25m is also being made available to councils to help people through the Discretionary Assistance Fund.

The Discretionary Assistance Fund helps people pay for essential costs such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel.

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said: “People are facing a very real cost-of-living crisis and urgent, meaningful action is required.

“The Chancellor’s offer at the start of the month fell short of what people needed. We have been able to go above and beyond to provide Welsh households with more help in paying bills, heating homes and putting food on the table.

“In total we are nearly doubling the equivalent support provided by the UK Government for those who need it the most, reflecting our priority of creating a fairer Wales in which no-one is left behind.”

What support will households in Wales be getting?

• All households will get a £200 payment through their energy provider – effectively a loan which will have to be repaid at £40 a year for the next five years.
• A £150 payment in Wales for households in council tax bands A to D. Council taxpayers who do not pay full council tax in any band will also get the payment.
• A £200 Winter Fuel Payment for this year and next if one member of the household is on certain benefits.

Welsh Conservatives “pleased”

Commenting on Labour’s cost of living announcement, Welsh Conservative Leader, Andrew RT Davies MS, said: “I am pleased to see the new money that has come from the Conservative UK Government put to good use by Cardiff Bay ministers as Welsh Conservatives have been calling for. 

“With global energy prices on the up, I am pleased to see action on this issue to help families deal with the cost of living issues that have arisen as a consequence of the pandemic.”

“It is just a shame Labour couldn’t help themselves and have a pop at British ministers who have led the way in finding a resolution to this.”

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Social Justice and Equalities, Sioned Williams MS, welcomed the payment but said: “The broad brush approach of giving £150 to all households in council tax bands A-D is not the best way to ensure those who are in the most need, those who will be facing the choice between heating and eating, receive the most help.”