MILLIONS of households will get a £150 Council Tax rebate to help with soaring living costs.
The Treasury has announced the boost for everyone on bands A to D as an extra measure of support for those on the lowest incomes.
The rebate will be on your 2022/23 council tax bill.
Speaking in an address to the British public this evening, Rishi said government measures would cover around half of the price cap increase.
The £150 council tax rebate will not need to be repaid by households.
He said those on middle incomes will also be helped, alongside those on low incomes.
Around 80% of homes in England will benefit from the move, as the discount is applied to homes on council tax bands A to D.
Setting out his plans, Mr Sunak first told the Commons: “We are going to give people a £150 council tax rebate to help with the cost of energy in April and this discount won’t need to be repaid.
Most read in Money
“And I do want to be clear with the House, that we are deliberately not just giving support to people on benefits.
“Lots of people on middle incomes are struggling right now, too. So we have decided to provide the council tax rebate to households in bands A to D. This means around 80% of all homes in England will benefit.”
? Read our Energy price cap live blog for the latest updates
He added: “And the third part of our plan will provide local authorities with a discretionary fund of nearly £150 million to help those lower income households who happen to live in higher council tax properties, and households in bands A to D who are exempt from council tax at all.”
It’s thought the move will cost the Exchequer at least £9billion.
You can find out your Council Tax band by checking with your local authority or on the postcode checker.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak made the announcement in the House of Commons shortly after households were dealt a blow as the new energy price cap was announced.
Energy regulator Ofgem confirmed the cap would soar 54% to £1,917 from April, adding £693 a year to the average bill.
Squeezed Brits are facing a brutal “Black Thursday” of price rises hitting millions of families.
Read more on The Sun
The cost of living has now reached a 30-year high, with families facing paying out up to £3,000 a year more for everyday essentials including food, fuel, household bills and clothing.
Households also face a planned rise in National Insurance and higher energy bills from April 1.
Council tax will rise by as much as £500.
And soaring inflation is adding £180 a year to grocery bills and soaring crude oil prices are pushing up prices at the pumps.More than 15 million households could benefit with the biggest rebates going to the poorest households.
It comes as part of a package of measures to help Brits facing a quadruple whammy of price rises which are:
Energy watchdog Ofgem was forced to bring forward its planned price cap rise on gas and electric bills as Boris Johnson’s Government scrambles to move on from the Partygate saga.
Suppliers will be allowed to hike the basic tariff for 22million households, meaning families are set for huge increases in bills.
Ofgem today confirmed average bills would rise 54% to £1,971 – adding £693 a year to the average bill.
Another rise is expected in autumn when the price cap is likely to go up yet again.
In addition to the help with Council Tax, the Chancellor, under pressure to scrap VAT on energy bills, has announced a £200 rebate for all domestic energy customers.
Ministers will underwrite billions of pounds worth of loans to energy firms to dish out to their customers — to be recouped over time.
The so-called “smoothing” mechanism will mean Brits pay less now when prices are high, but face paying back huge sums over several years.
And the winter scheme may only be extended from the end of the year, leaving months of pain for struggling households.
In a bid to stop the poorest Brits choosing between heating and eating, he is also extending eligibility for the Warm Homes Discount.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?