Many families in Wirral are set to be given a £150 rebate on their Council Tax.
But this may not be enough to prevent some being pushed into hardship by the soaring cost of living.
Yesterday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that people in Council Tax bands A to D will receive rebates funded by government grants. Those in lower bands will get more, an average of £150 per household.
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In Wirral, 89% of households, 134,120 in total, are in bands A to D.
Council Tax is just one bill that residents have to face. What some have called a ‘cost of living crisis’ has been triggered by rising energy costs, with millions set to pay £693 per year more from April.
To deal with this, the Chancellor has said households will get £350 to support them with their energy bills.
But many are deeply worried about what the year ahead will look like for them.
Speaking to the ECHO in New Ferry yesterday, Jane Ewing said: “How much more can working people cut back on their costs of living?
“We're just working to survive now while MPs are on extortionate amounts of money. They want to try and live on next to nothing for a few months.”
As well as rising costs for energy, local councils will be allowed to increase Council Tax by up to 3% without a referendum in April.
Wirral Council has not confirmed its plans for Council Tax for the next financial year, but if the local authority raises it by the maximum amount of 2.99%, which includes a 1% precept for social care, a typical Band D property would be charged £59.54 more than last year.
Wirral's Council Tax changes with 2.99% rise:
- Band A: Up by £39.69 from £1,327.50 to £1,367.19
- Band B: Up by £46.31 from £1,548.74 to £1,595.05
- Band C: Up by £52.92 from £1,769.99 to £1,822.91
- Band D: Up by £59.54 from £1,991.24 to £2,050.78
- Band E: Up by £72.77 from £2,433.74 to £2,506.51
- Band F: Up by £86.00 from £2,876.23 to £2,962.23
- Band G: Up by £99.23 from £3,318.74 to £3,417.97
- Band H: Up by £119.08 from £3,982.48 to £4,101.56
But thanks to the Council Tax rebate those in Band D homes will still be saving more than £90 on their Council Tax bills.
Of course taxpayers may save more than this if Wirral Council does not decide to raise Council Tax by the maximum amount.
Yet many fear tough times ahead with bills such as energy set to significantly rise.
