Cost of living awards important information
Eligible Inverclyde residents will receive two cost of living grants from next month.
Households in Council Tax Bands A-D are entitled to the £150 Scottish Government Cost of Living Award and this will be automatically deducted from their 2022/23 Council Tax bills.
Council Tax bills are currently being sent out via email for those who have signed up for the online service or through letterboxes for those who require traditional paper copies.
A second one-off payment of £300 will be made to support low income households as part of Inverclyde Council’s 2022/23 budget.
Funding of £3 million has been made available to support all households that are in receipt of Council Tax reduction and certain households exempt from paying Council Tax, including those occupied exclusively by students.
Those who are eligible for this £300 Inverclyde Council Cost of Living Award – some 10,000 households – will be contacted directly by the end of March 2022 with more information and how to access the payment.
Find out more about both Cost of Living awards below.
Scottish Government - Cost of Living Award - £150
A Cost of Living Award was announced as part of the 2022-23 Scottish Budget. It is an additional support for low income households to help tackle the cost of living crisis. The Cost of Living Award of £150 is provided to:
- Those who receive Council Tax Reduction;
- Council Tax payers who live in a council tax Band A-D property;
- Certain people living in a property exempt from Council Tax.
Do I need to claim the Cost of Living Award?
No. Inverclyde Council has identified everyone who qualifies and will make the payment to them.
More than one of us pays Council Tax where I live, will I receive the payment?
Only one payment will be made in relation to any single dwelling. In cases of joint and several liability, payment will be made to the first named person on the Council Tax bill.
When will I receive the Cost of Living Award?
Your bill will show the payment which will have reduced your monthly Council Tax instalments or it may have placed your account into credit. A refund of any credit in your account can be arranged by contacting the service directly by email council.tax@inverclyde.gov.uk or through the Customer Service Centre 01475 717171.
Inverclyde Council - Cost of Living Award - £300
Inverclyde Council agreed on 24 February 2022 as part of the 2022/23 council budget additional support of £3m to low income households. A one-off payment of £300 will be made to all households in Inverclyde in receipt of Council Tax reduction and certain households exempt from paying Council Tax, including those occupied exclusively by students.
If you qualify we will write to you by the end of March to let you know more about the payment which will ideally be paid to your bank, building society or credit union account.
For more information www.inverclyde.gov.uk/costofliving
To find out how Inverclyde Council uses your data visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/site-basics/privacy