Richard Fuller MP has welcomed Government plans to support homes in Council Tax bands A-D with a £150 non-repayable cash rebate.
This is just part of the support put in place, with plans worth up to £350 per household across North East Bedfordshire in total, as part of the £9.1 billion package of government support to help with rising energy bills.
As the UK economy continues its recovery from the pandemic, the government is confronting the global inflationary pressures caused by the world economy coming swiftly back to life.
Although, there are limited levers the government has to deal with these global problems – the Government have already taken steps to support families. These measures include reducing the Universal Credit taper rate, increasing the National Living Wage, freezing fuel duty for the twelfth year in a row, and launching a £500 million Household Support Fund to help the lowest-income households with their bills.
Following Ofgem’s confirmation that the energy price cap will rise by £700 from April, the Government has announced this three-part plan to help with household fuel bills immediately and protect people against half of this increase.
Support includes:
- A £200 ‘smoothing’ rebate on energy bills for all households, to be paid back over the next five years at £40 per year – starting from April 2023
- 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
- £144 million of discretionary funding for local authorities to support households not eligible for the council tax rebate
Measures also include continuing with plans to increase the Warm Homes Discount and extend eligibility by one-third to 3 million vulnerable households, worth £150.
Commenting, Richard said:
Global pressures have led to households across my constituency feeling a squeeze on their household costs, so it is right that the Government has come forward with this support.
These measures will help 60,681 households across Bedford Borough and 94,903 households across Central Bedfordshire Council in Bands A-D with council tax bills, as well as a £200 rebate on energy bills for all households, on top of pre-existing measures to support families, such as the Warm Home Discount scheme.
This will deliver support to more people and a faster pace – giving families the support they need now.
More information can be watched in the Chancellor's video here.
The government is also injecting £144 million of discretionary funding for local authorities to support households not eligible for the council tax rebate, ensuring it protects all families against rising prices. This funding will help local authorities to support households not eligible for the cash rebate – including properties in bands A-D that are exempt from council tax, and households on lower incomes in higher bands.
