Gateshead Council's cabinet has approved a £20 'top up' on energy rebates to households in council tax bands A to D and in receipt of council tax support.
According to Gateshead Council 20,472 residents are eligible for the top up, 8,500 of which are pensioners. In addition, the council also approved to allocate £170 to residents in bands E-H (86 cases) who are also in receipt of council tax support.
The relief package comes from a central government funding totalling £13,564,650. Included in the fund is £447,750 reserved for the top ups.
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Vice chair of Gateshead council's cabinet, Lobley Hill and Bensham councillor Catherine Donovan said: "I think obviously people will find this £150 will be welcome but when you look at how people's bills have doubled, £150 no where near cuts it.
"It's taken a lot of time and the officers have done a lot to get this money out there and should be commended for that. But I think it needs to be said that much much more needs to be done to help more people. The projection for October is that they will go up another 50%."
Council leader Martin Gannon said: "My direct debit payment goes up from £141 a month to £245. That's not unique but on top of that you have got a rise in general inflation, 7%. Those people who are most affected are people who are on fixed incomes, particularly people on benefits, because the benefits increase was 5%. When Rishi Sunak announced his support package, it was least targeted to those most in need."
Gateshead Council expects to have approximately £25,000 remaining once all the energy rebates have been allocated.
The council will subsequently use this saving to make payments to occupiers of properties in bands A to D who have moved in after the April 1 qualifying date and who have not already received a payment at another address. The money may also be used to make payments to newly qualifying households following a property band change relieved after April 1.
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