From last Friday, 1 April, households across the Forest of Dean in property bands A - D will receive a £150 Council Tax rebate, putting more money into the pockets of people across our area.
As the UK economy continues its recovery from the pandemic, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak stepped in to confront the global inflationary pressures caused by the world economy coming swiftly back to life.
That is why a non-repayable £150 cash rebate for homes in Council Tax bands A-D – equivalent to 80 per cent of all households, has been introduced to help both lower and middle-income families.
The £150 cash rebate will help families and households to manage the costs of their bills, and forms just one part of our £22 billion support package to help families with the cost of living.
Another element of this support package is the Household Support Fund, which has recently been doubled to provide a total of £1 billion of extra support to local authorities across the country including right here in Gloucestershire.
A third of the funding will be ring-fenced to support families with children, while another third will be dedicated to pensioners. This ensures the people who need it most will continue to receive vital support to meet essential household costs.
Using their local knowledge, local authorities will determine how to best use the remainder of the fund within the scope set out by ministers. Previous funding has supported households with food, clothing, energy and water costs, and this extension will ensure that this support continues through to the autumn.
This national fund was intended to directly help those who need it most through local authorities like Gloucestershire County Council, who know their communities and know where to target this extra support. The grant from central government means vulnerable people across Gloucestershire can receive payments to help meet daily needs such as food, clothing, and utilities.
Individuals or families can self-refer or be referred by any professional working with the family (for example a support worker, family support work etc.)
