Birmingham City Council has published the details of the support that they are giving to residents to help them through the costs of living crisis, thanks to the discretionary element off the Council Tax Energy Rebate Scheme.
Those living in homes in council tax bands A to D were able to receive £150, however local authorities were also provided with extra funding by the government. This funding was intended to allow the councils to operate a discretionary scheme to support households that were in need and not eligible for the council tax rebate.
Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Cllr Yvonne Mosquito, said:
“The cost of living crisis is affecting people in all parts of the city, living in all types of properties.
“Through our discretionary scheme we have tried to help some of the most vulnerable – regardless of where they live – who are most likely to be those impacted most by rising energy prices and inflation in general.
“This will not solve all problems and issues being faced by people struggling to make ends meet but it is a way in which we have been able to shape the support that is available at a local level for Birmingham residents.”
The funding allocated to Birmingham amounted to £3.6 million, and the council created a set of criteria to help them distribute the money to those who would need support beyond the ‘core scheme.’
As with those in bands A to D, people living in council tax bands E to H will receive a £150 payment, alongside an extra £90 payment that will be made to pensioners in those bands. This comes in addition to the £5.1 million that has already been paid out to 34,000 pensioners who qualified for support through the main energy rebate scheme.
Support has also been made available for pensioners and students living in bands A to D, with around £5 million being utilised through the form off £90 top-ups and Post Office vouchers.
The scheme is already open for those eligible to apply, however payments have already started for those who are eligible and bank details are known, whilst council tax accounts are to be credited with the amount where bank details are unknown and an application wasn’t made.
