West Oxfordshire District Council has been allocated an additional £222,171 in funding from Oxfordshire County Council as part of the Household Support Fund to provide further support to residents facing financial difficulties. This funding will be used to help those struggling with housing costs and council tax payments during the 2024/2025 financial year.
Cllr Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, said: “We are committed to supporting residents through these ongoing challenging times, and this additional funding will enable us to help more people stay in their homes and support people with their council tax payments.
“The automatic application of the council tax credit ensures that those in need will benefit without the need for further applications, easing the burden on households and offering peace of mind.”
The funding will be split into two key areas:
- Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) Fund - £107,528
A total of £107,528 will be allocated to top-up the council’s Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) fund. This will enable the council to provide additional support to residents in financial crisis who are in receipt of Housing Benefit or the Universal Credit housing element. The enhanced funding will help reduce the risk of eviction and homelessness by offering vital financial assistance to residents struggling to meet their housing costs.
2. Council Tax Support for Low-Income Residents - £114,643
The remaining £114,643 will be used to support residents on low incomes who are in receipt of council tax support. Following a comprehensive financial modelling exercise, the council has determined that a one-off payment of up to £25 will be credited directly to eligible residents’ council tax accounts during September. This credit will also be applied to any new council tax support customers throughout the financial year, provided there is sufficient surplus funding available.
There is no need for residents to apply for this additional credit, as it will be automatically applied to their council tax accounts.
The Household Support Fund has been provided by the Department for Work and Pensions to help with essential costs. It is provided to local councils who decide how to distribute the funding in their local area.
For further information on the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme and council tax support, residents can visit the West Oxfordshire District Council website.
Contact Information
West Oxfordshire District Council Communications Team
communications@westoxon.gov.uk
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