Scottish Government - Cost of Living Award - £150

A Cost of Living Award was announced as part of the 2022-23 Scottish Budget announcement on 10 February 2022.  It is an additional support for low income households to help tackle the cost of living crisis. The Cost of Living Award is for £150 and eligibility for the award is to be based on whether the person is liable for Council Tax on 14 February and will be paid to people who meet one of the criteria detailed below:

• A person who lives in a dwelling in any Council Tax valuation band, is liable for Council Tax and is in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CTR);
• A person who lives in and is liable for council tax for a council tax Band A-D dwelling and does not receive Council Tax Reduction;
• Certain categories of person living in a property exempt from Council Tax.

In certain circumstances, persons living in dwellings exempt from Council Tax will be eligible for the £150 Cost of Living award. Specifically, persons living in dwellings where:

• 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.

Only one payment will be made in relation to any single dwelling. In cases of joint and several liability, payment will be made to the first named person on the Council Tax bill. Where this is not possible, local authorities have discretion to identify the most appropriate person to whom this payment should be made.

• Additionally, persons accessing Housing Support Service and/or living in temporary accommodation or a refuge may be eligible for payment under this scheme.

Payment and Delivery             

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 however in line with the majority of Council’s in Scotland a payment of £150 will be credited to your 2022/23 Council Tax account.

We will credit eligible Council Tax accounts prior to issuing the annual bills for 2022/23 and monthly instalments will be reduced to reflect this.