The reduction of £150 to council tax bills will begin to roll out across West Lothian in the next few weeks when householders will learn what their new charges will be.
The Westminster government made cash available last month for the additional financial support for low income households.
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The Scottish Government’s scheme will make the Cost of Living Awards through council tax bills once the annual 3% increase has been calculated.
Only a small number of eligible households will receive a direct payment from the scheme.
The Scottish Budget Bill approved in February confirmed funding of £280 million to provide £150 to every household in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CRTS) in any Band and to provide £150 to all other occupied households in Bands A to D.
The £2.15 cut will be to Band D properties.
The council tax rise agreed by West Lothian Council this year is 3%. Prior to the Westminster announcement that would have meant a Band D property in the county would have seen a charge of £1,314.71 per year for more than 71,000 homes . The 3% increase equates to an extra 74p per week for a Band D property.
The credit will be automatically applied to most household bills.
There had been fears that some English councils would face difficulties passing on the savings to those residents who do not pay by direct debit
A spokesman for the council said: “West Lothian Council is able to confirm that 98.5% of eligible households are liable to pay council tax and will receive a £150 credit to their Council Tax account which will be shown in their 2022/23 annual Council Tax bill.
Households should receive their annual Council Tax bill for 2022/23 in the next few weeks.
The households eligible for the award are those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), not in receipt of CTRS but living in properties in Council Tax Bands A–D, and low income households exempt from council tax.
"The small number of eligible households that do not have a council tax liability (1.5%) will be contacted and receive a direct payment of £150 before the end April 2022."
Information on council tax, including council tax bands, liability and how you can pay your bill, is available via the West Lothian Council website: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/council-tax
