Homes across Merseyside will be issued with a one-off Council tax rebate of £150 as energy bills are set to rocket in April.
Across Merseyside, it is estimated that there are 565,700 families who could be in line for the rebate.
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced those with council tax bands A-D in England will receive £150 that does not need to be paid back.
The most up-to-date figures from Fuel Poverty Resource reveals that 14.4% of households in Liverpool were in fuel poverty in 2020.
When the energy price cap is raised in April, 2 million more households across England could be plunged into poverty according to fuel charity, National Energy Action (NEA).
Opinions on the streets
Merseynewslive asked shoppers on the streets of Liverpool about the council tax rebate, and if they thought it was enough.
“It’s a drop in the ocean really”, said Richard Bailey 68, from Croxteth, who is retired.
“No matter what we say or do you’re knocking your head against a brick wall because the government will decide what they’re going to do, and it doesn’t matter what public opinion is.”
Richard added: “They have got to what they decide what they need to do – whether it’s right or wrong and only time will tell.”
It is estimated that more than four million households will receive this rebat, and NEA have said that many people will be choosing between heating and eating.
Louise Hipperson, 22, who lives in Liverpool City Centre said: “I just don’t think £150 is enough.
“I’ve seen some people’s energy bills going up by hundreds, even thousands of pounds a year.
“£150 will not even dip into the soar in prices that we’re experiencing at the moment.”
“They’re trying to do something to help, but is it enough?”, said Jack Lyons, 29, from Merseyside.
“I’m not really sure. I think it’s just trying to appease the masses, but I don’t think they can do any more with everything that’s going on.”
One shopper, Elizabeth Varley, 39, summed up the council tax rebate and said: “I find the whole thing baffling, to be honest.”
Featured image by Matthew Henry on Unsplash, creative commons license.
