Cost of living award
April 2022 - Cost of living award
As part of the 2022-23 Scottish Budget announcement on 10 February 2022, Scottish Government announced a Cost of Living Award of £150 to be provided by Local Authorities to low income households to help tackle the cost of living crisis.
The award is to be made to eligible households before the end of April 2022. Only one payment is to be made in relation to any dwelling.
These payments will be made automatically so there is no need to apply.
Eligible households
- People who, on 14 February 2022, were resident in a property and in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CTR)
- People who, on 14 February 2022 were resident in and liable for the Council Tax for a single dwelling in council tax valuation bands A – D. This includes dwellings reduced from E to D as a consequence of the Reductions for Disabilities (Scotland) 1992 Regulations
- People living in a property exempt from Council Tax, in the following circumstances
- all the occupants are under 18
- all the occupants are care leavers
- all the occupants are severely mentally impaired
- the property is unoccupied because the resident has gone to someone else's home to provide care or the resident receives care elsewhere
Students are not eligible for a payment through this scheme as extra financial support for students (discretionary funding) is available to eligible students through other funds.
Extra financial support for students
How the payment will be made
The Scottish Government’s overriding objective is for the award to be made to eligible households before the end of April 2022. Local Authorities have discretion over the method used to make direct payments.
In line with the majority of Council’s in Scotland a payment of £150 will be credited to your 2022/23 Council Tax account. Your monthly instalments will be reduced to reflect this.
If your Council Tax account is in credit
If your Council Tax account is in credit, you can request a refund of the credit balance by completing the secure online form below.
Further information
If you require further help or advice regarding the £150 Cost of Living Payment, or help to complete the online refund request form, please contact us:
- by email livingcosts@highland.gov.uk
- by phone 01349 781990