This scheme has now ended, no new applications will be accepted.
Welsh Government has announced that a £150 cost of living payment is to be made to all occupiers of properties that are in bands A, B, C and D, along with those that receive Council Tax Reduction (formerly known as council tax benefit), regardless of what band their property is in (A to I).
The £150 is not a rebate on the council tax bill, it is a payment to help with the rising cost of all utility bills.
Every household that qualifies will receive a payment, even if you don’t pay council tax because you receive council tax reduction.
There will be ONE payment per eligible household.
Empty properties and second homes are not eligible for a payment, only properties that were occupied on the 15 February 2022.
It looks like some council tax payers who are exempt from paying the tax (for example, a household made up entirely of care leavers up to the age of 25, or people with a severe mental impairment) will also be entitled to receive a payment although the exact details of this are yet to be confirmed.
You will receive the payment into your bank account, it cannot be deducted from your council tax bill.
Discretionary Scheme
The Discretionary Scheme effects those that the main Cost of Living scheme did not include, this includes exempt council taxpayers that do not pay any council tax, as well as those who receive a disabled council tax reduction and those who have started to receive council tax reduction since the main scheme started.
There is no application for this scheme the cost-of-living team are identifying those that will be paid and will issue a payment to be cashed at the Post Office in the form of a voucher. Before a voucher is issued all recipients will be sent a letter explaining how they qualify.
If we require any additional information we will contact you from the email address costoflivingpayments@newport.gov.uk
Please be mindful of telephone calls from people claiming to work for the Council, we will not ring you to ask for bank account details. Should you receive a call and want to check if it is genuine, please email the Cost of Living Team on costoflivingpayments@newport.gov.uk