Details of cost of living payments in Moray revealed

RESIDENTS in Moray living in homes eligible for a £150 cost of living award will see the money credited to their new council tax bills, due to be issued shortly.

Specific criteria have been set out by the Scottish Government, based on circumstances at February 14, and subject to a maximum of one award per property.

This means those who qualify for the award are: Those in receipt of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme – regardless of their property band; Those living in property bands A-D. If you are unsure which band your property is in, you can check this via the Scottish Assessors website, and it will also be detailed on your bill; properties in any band where the following exemptions apply – all of the occupants are under 18, all of the occupants are care leavers, all of the occupants are severely mentally impaired or the property is unoccupied as the resident has gone elsewhere to give or received care.

While all those who qualify will receive the £150 cost of living award, the award total may appear differently on some bills. This will be dependent on instalments, any arrears and if balances are transferring from the previous financial year.

For example, those who have overpaid in an earlier year will see an amount which is more than £150 against Cost of Living Award/Previous Year Credit, whereas those who have an outstanding balance from the previous year will see it appear as less than £150, albeit the full amount of the award has been made and split over a number of years.

Information is available on Moray Council’s website, and anyone with queries should contact ctaxbills@moray.gov.uk or (01343) 563456. Please note the team receives an increase in enquiries at this time of year and responses may take longer than usual.