THE MP for Vale of Clwyd, James Davies, has welcomed news that more of the help towards the cost of living, announced in February, is starting to benefit residents across Denbighshire.

In a three-part plan to help with household fuel bills, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, introduced a non-repayable £150 cash rebate for homes in council tax bands A-D – equivalent to 80 per cent of all households, helping both lower and middle-income families.

He also announced £144million of discretionary funding for local authorities to support households not eligible for the council tax rebate.

READ MORE:

One-off payments issued to Denbighshire residents paying council tax

As the council tax element of the plan is devolved, the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay received an extra £175m in consequential funding.

At the time, Dr Davies urged Ministers in Cardiff Bay to use the money to give households in Wales a council tax rebate and to create a discretionary fund for local authorities to use on households who do not meet the criteria.

He is pleased that they agreed to do so and that Denbighshire County Council has now begun one-off payments of £150 to those paying Council Tax bands A-D.

Dr Davies said: “I very much welcomed this element of support when it was first announced by the UK Chancellor back in February.

“And I am pleased that the payments are now starting to filter through to residents in council tax bands A-D, to residents who were in receipt of Council Tax Reduction Scheme Support on February 15, irrespective of the council tax band, and those with properties in council tax band E where the property has had modifications for disability, reducing the chargeable value to band D.

“I have been told that the first payments are being made to residents who pay for council tax via direct debit and that payments started this week (Monday, May 16).

“Residents who do not pay their council tax by direct debit must complete a short application form on the council’s website, which will be made available during the week commencing May 23 with payments made during the following week.

“I would like to thank all staff in Denbighshire County Council who have been working hard since the announcement was first made to ensure that the rebate system runs as smoothly as possible.

“The cost of energy is rising worldwide as economies recover from the pandemic and I appreciate these are difficult times for many.

“The UK Government has taken other steps to help people with rising living costs, including:

• “Reducing the Universal Credit taper rate and increasing the work allowance (worth around £1,000 a year for two million low income families),

• “Raising the income threshold at which people start paying National Insurance from £9,500 to £12,570 (worth over £330 individually,

• “Increasing the National Living Wage,

• “Increasing the Warm Home Discount to £150 for three million low income households,

• “Introducing a ‘smoothing rebate’ on energy bills,

• “Reducing fuel duty

• “Increasing the Household Support Fund to £1billion to help the lowest income households with food and utility costs.”

For more information on the Cost of Living Support Scheme in Denbighshire, visit: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/benefits-grants-and-money-advice/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support.aspx.