How people in Rochdale can get help with council tax and energy bills as the cost of living crisis begins to bite

People in Rochdale are bracing themselves for a near 4pc hike in council tax at the same time as gas and electricity bills are also set to soar.

Borough leaders are set to sign off the 3.62pc council tax increase later this week, while households can expect to pay an additional £693 on their annual energy bills after Ofgem raised the price cap to 54pc.

Both increases will come into force from April as making ends meet looks to become even tougher in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.

READ MORE : 'If not now, when? Call to freeze Rochdale council tax as cost of living crisis looms

There are schemes from both the council and government intended to take the sting out of rising costs - particularly for the hardest up.

However these were the source of some confusion as councillors ran the rule over Rochdale’s budget proposals during a recent scrutiny meeting.

The below sets out the various ways Rochdalians could be helped out financially over the coming 12 months.

Thousands of households in the borough of Rochdale are set to benefit from a council tax cut of up to £150 from April.

The reduction will be automatically applied to about 14,700 homes where bill payers are of working age and currently qualify for council tax support.

It will also be given to anyone of working age who becomes eligible for council Tax support at any time during 2022/23.

Any bills that are less than £150 will be automatically set to zero, meaning there will be nothing to pay throughout the year.

This £3m scheme is largely funded by one-off monies, as well as a surplus from the collection fund.

Council leader Neil Emmott said councillors were aware they had a responsibility ‘to help those that are most in need’ during difficult times.

“This discount