The council’s discretionary scheme is now open, running until Wednesday 30 November 2022.

Residents who live in bands E-H and meet one the criteria may be eligible for a discretionary £150 payment from the government to help with the cost of living.

You may also be eligible for this payment if you live in a bands A-D and moved in after 1 April 2022.

To be successful in this application you will need to meet one of the following criteria:

• In receipt of Income Support, Income-based JSA, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
• Pensioners in receipt of a state retirement pension
• New occupiers (after 1 April 2022) of Bands A-D properties
• People with disabilities who are in receipt of one or more of the state disability allowances. Long term sickness, serious or terminal illness
• Customers who are pregnant or have a new born/recently adopted child
• Recent bereavement, within the last three months
• Single parent families
• Care leavers
• Language and/or literacy difficulties, including ethnic minorities, refugees, asylum seekers and people whose first language is not English
• People suffering from fuel poverty/hardship

Residents who are in receipt of Council Tax Support and/or Housing Benefit, or are in receipt of student or severely mentally impaired exemption will automatically receive a post office voucher and will not need to submit an application.

Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for finance, Cllr Cathy Mitchell, said: “We are doing everything we can to help people through the cost of living crisis, and the discretionary rebate scheme is another way for local people to get financial support.

“If you think you are eligible, make sure you apply for your payment before 30 November. We will be working hard to process all applications as quickly as possible.”