Scottish Government Cost of Living Award 2022 - £150
Do I qualify and how will I get it?
The Scottish Government announced a £150 Cost of Living Award as part of the 2022/23 Scottish budget. This award is to help tackle the cost of living crisis.
Those who qualify for the award do not need to pay it back.
Who qualifies for the award?
You qualify if:
- You get Council Tax Reduction (CTR). To qualify for the award, you need to have been in receipt of CTR on 14 February, 2022.
- You are liable for Council Tax and living in a property in Council Tax Bands A to D, and do not receive Council Tax Reduction. To qualify, you need to have been liable for Council Tax in Bands A to D on 14 February 2022.
What if my household is exempt from Council Tax?
Certain people living in a property exempt from Council Tax also qualify for the Cost of Living Award. This applies to those 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.
What if I receive single person discount?
This is classed as a discount rather than a reduction and does not count towards eligibility.
Who else might qualify?
If you are accessing Housing Support Services and/or living in temporary accommodation or a refuge, you may also qualify for the £150 Cost of Living Award.
How will I get the award and when?
If you are on Council Tax Reduction (CTR)
- Your Council Tax account will be credited and your 2022/23 bill will be reduced. You will have smaller instalments as a result.
- This will be shown on Council Tax bills, which arrived by post from 23 March 2022.
If you live in a property in Council Tax Bands A to D
- Your Council Tax account will be credited and your 2022/23 bill will be reduced. You will have smaller instalments as a result.
- This will be shown on Council Tax bills, which arrived by post from 23 March 2022.
If you live in a property exempt from Council Tax
- If you live in a property exempt from Council Tax, and you qualify for the award, you will be paid by cheque.
- This applies to those in the categories listed in the “What if my household is exempt from Council Tax” section above.
- We plan to make these awards by the end of April – there is no need to contact us before that date.
If you are accessing Housing Support Services or living in temporary accommodation
- If you are accessing Housing Support Services and/or living in temporary accommodation or a refuge, and you qualify for the award under this scheme, you will be paid by cheque.
- We plan to make these awards by the end of April – there is no need to contact us before that date.
Do I need to apply for this award?
No, you do not need to apply for this award. Please be aware of scam emails and social media posts which may ask you to do this or which ask for your financial details or other personal information.
What if a property is empty, or if someone else is liable to pay the Council Tax?
The award applies to eligible Council Tax accounts where a person is resident and liable to pay Council Tax. Empty dwellings are not eligible, nor are those where an actual person is not liable for Council Tax - for example a flat owned by a brewery or other business, where they pay the Council Tax.
What if more than one person in a house is liable for Council Tax?
Only one award will be made to any single property. Where liability for Council Tax rests with more than one person, the award will apply to the first named person on the Council Tax bill. Where this is not possible, the Council has discretion to identify the most appropriate person to make the award to.
Is there a qualifying date for the award?
If you qualify because you are on Council Tax Reduction (CTR), or because you live in a property in Council Tax Bands A to D, you needed to have a Council Tax account on 14 February 2022. If your account started from 15 February 2022 or later, you do not qualify.
Can I choose how I receive the award?
If you qualify because you are on Council Tax Reduction (CTR), or because you live in a property in Council Tax Bands A to D, the Council is only able to make the award by crediting your Council Tax account and reducing your instalments.