Thousands of Shropshire residents are to receive a £400 payment to help ease the current cost of living crisis. The council has secured an extra £2.1 million as part of a government initiative to help people struggling to meet essential household costs such as energy, water bills and food.
Low-Income Households to Benefit from £400 Payment
Around 3,000 low-income households in Shropshire are expected to benefit from this £400 payment. In particular, these are households who receive Council Tax support and have a dependent child living in the home.
The council will identify eligible households and send them a letter with instructions on how to claim the payment. In addition to the £400 payment, help will be available for people of working age who are in receipt of Council Tax Support but still owe 20% of their Council Tax.
These people will be eligible for a maximum payment of £60 towards their debt, based on the balance remaining after the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, rebates and exemptions have been applied.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the £400 payment, households must be in receipt of Council Tax Support. This is designed to help people on low incomes or in receipt of benefits to pay their Council Tax.
Another essential requirement is to have a dependent child whose main residence is the property in question. This helps to ensure that the assistance reaches families with children who may face additional financial pressures.
Application Process
Shropshire Council will automatically identify eligible households based on its records. Once identified, these households will receive a letter detailing the steps they need to take to claim the £400 payment.
The process is even simpler for those receiving an additional £60 of Council Tax support. The council will automatically apply this assistance to the accounts concerned, eliminating the need for an application.
FAQs
- Who can claim the £400 payment?
Households receiving Council Tax benefit and with a dependent child living in the home are eligible for the £400 payment. - How will eligible households be informed?
Eligible households will be identified by Shropshire Council and will receive a letter with instructions on how to claim the payment. - Is there an application procedure for the additional £60 Council Tax support?
Not at all, the extra £60 help will be automatically applied to the Council Tax accounts of eligible people.
