£150 Cost of Living Support

£150 Cost of Living Support (Registration is now closed)

Most customers will not need to complete the registration form and will receive automatic payment. However, there are some customers to whom automatic payments were not possible and these will receive a registration letter to apply online.

A registration letter will be sent to you with a unique access code to allow you to make your application online following the link above. 

If you have any issues regarding direct debit payment queries or the registration process, please refer to the frequently asked questions first as this should answer any difficulties you may experience and explain the next steps to take.

Cost of Living Support Scheme FAQ's


On 15th February 2022 as part of the Welsh Government’s Supplementary Budget a package of measures was announced to help people with the cost-of-living crisis.  The package includes £152M to provide a £150 cost-of-living payment to eligible households (the main scheme) and £25m to provide discretionary support for other purposes related to living costs. 

The schemes are intended to provide immediate support as Wales recovers from the pandemic and support households to deal with the impact of increasing energy and other costs.

Main Cost of Living Support Scheme
Qualifying Details Payment Amount  Council Tax Direct Debit Payers Council Tax Non Direct Debit Payers
If you live in a band A to D property as at 15th February 2022 £150.00
  • You will automatically receive a payment into your bank account of £150;
  • You will receive a letter confirming when payment is being made;
  • You can expect to receive this over the next 6 weeks (any update to anticipated timescales will be updated here)
  • You will receive a letter inviting you to register for the payment;
  • You must wait to receive your letter to register;
  • You will receive your letter over the coming weeks ; 
  • Once you have registered your payment will follow in due course
  • Please keep your Council Tax demand notice safe as you will need it to register

 

Cost of Living Support Scheme Bands E - I
If you live in a band E to I property and you receive Council Tax Reduction Support as at 15th February 2022 £150.00
  • You will automatically receive a payment into your bank account of £150;
  • You will receive a letter confirming when payment is being made;
  • You can expect to receive this by the end of April (any update to anticipated timescales will be updated here)

 

  • You will receive a letter inviting you to register for the payment;
  • You must wait to receive your letter to register;
  • You will receive your letter over the coming weeks ; 
  • Once you have registered your payment will follow due course;
  • Please keep your Council Tax demand notice safe as you will need it to register

 

In addition, a discretionary scheme will also be established to help support households who may be struggling but do not fulfil the above eligibility criteria, details of this discretionary scheme are currently under development and will further guidance will be issued when available. We will keep you updated via this channel. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q, I have just received my council tax bill but there are no details of the payment being made against my bill. Should I have had the £150 payment taken off my council tax bill? 

A, No.  The Cost of Living Support payments are not council tax payments and will not be used to reduce a council tax bill for any resident. The payments will be made to each eligible household who can use the money as they wish.

Q, Do I need to contact the Local Council to request this payment?

A, No you do not need to contact the Local Council,  if you are eligible and pay your Council Tax by Direct        Debit you will receive the payment automatically. For any other method of payment you will receive a letter      inviting you to register your bank details. You cannot do this until the letter has been received

Q, There will be groups of other low-income households who are not eligible. Why have these not been included as eligible for the scheme?

A, A Discretionary Scheme is also being provided to assist other households who are not eligible under the main scheme .

Q, Will the £150 payment affect means-tested benefits?

A, The Department for Works and Pension has confirmed that payments made under Local Welfare Provision are disregarded in the assessment of Income Support, Income Based JSA and Income Related ESA so these will not be affected.  Universal Credit claimants, will also not see their entitlement change as a result of receiving this payment.

Q, A householder(s) who has their main residence in England has applied to the scheme for their second property in Wales.  They are liable for paying council tax and are responsible for paying the fuels bills at the property, are they eligible for a payment

A, No.  The scheme is there to support households in their primary residence only.

Q, A householder(s) owns two homes in Wales, are they eligible for assistance through the scheme?

A, Only in respect of the property they inhabit as a primary residence (if they do occupy one of these properties as their primary residence).

Q, Is there a target date by which payments should be made?

A, No.  Councils are encouraged to make payments in a timely manner and as soon as practically possible after a successful decision.

Q, Can a householder(s) appeal against a decision not to award a payment under the Cost-of-Living Support Scheme? 

A, No.  There is no right of appeal against a decision not to grant a payment as a refusal will arise because the household does not meet the conditions of the scheme.  Councils should look to reconsider cases where new information may change the outcome, e.g. where a property is retrospectively listed as liable for council tax.