Inverness councillors seeking to increase winter payments in view of the soaring cost of living

INVERNESS councillors will seek to increase a winter financial support scheme to payments of £150 per household after agreeing to the continuation of scheme.

The Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme for 2022/2023 will see eligible people in Inverness receive a £97 one-off payment per household as support during the cold season.

However, in view of the soaring energy prices, councillors confirmed they will be looking into an increase to the single tier payment to £150.

Highland Council’s Inverness leader Ian Brown said: “The Winter Payments Scheme for Inverness and area is now going into its eighth year, however, during this time, we have not seen our Highland citizens facing such challenging and difficult financial decisions.

“I have no doubt that our local winter payment, coupled with the other packages of financial support coming through, will act as a lifeline for some individuals.

“The fuel and cost-of-living crisis we are currently living through is unprecedented and demonstrates the key role which this scheme plays in helping people to heat their homes.”

Councillor Brown added: “We hope that by providing this discretionary payment, and through the council’s continued work to promote the uptake of other sources of financial support and advice, that we can improve the wellbeing of those most in need in Inverness.”

The Inverness Winter Payments Scheme is fully funded by the Inverness Common Fund and is therefore only available to eligible people within the seven specified Inverness area wards.

Inverness Common Good funding can only be used to principally benefit people living within the geographic area of the former Burgh of Inverness.

For financial advice and support, the council has created the Worrying About Money? guide. You can also contact its welfare support team at 0800 090 1004 or welfare.support@highland.gov.uk and more information is at www.highland.gov.uk/costofliving

New applications for this year’s scheme will be accepted from December 1 to February 28, 2023.

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