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Last month, the Welsh Government announced its Cost of Living Support Scheme to help people cope with rising utility bills.

But what support is available and who is eligible to claim this support?

The scheme is split into two parts – the main scheme and a discretionary scheme.

As part of the main scheme, a £150 cost of living payment will be paid out to council tax payers living in property bands A to D, as well as council tax payers who are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction, regardless of their band.

There will be one payment per eligible household.

The main scheme will begin in April, with around 70,000 households in Caerphilly County Borough potentially eligible. However, Caerphilly County Borough Council has said payments could take several months to be made.

The council has said it should be able to make the payments directly into the bank accounts of anyone who pays their council tax by direct debit, without the need to register.

However, all other eligible council tax payers will need to register through the council’s website. Anyone without internet access will be able to make separate arrangements with the council.

Details on the discretionary part of the scheme have not yet been announced, but the council has said it will make information available “once we have received finalised details from the Welsh Government and have decided how best to implement the main and discretionary elements of the scheme”.