Members of the Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee have agreed to provide a Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme for eligible people in the Inverness area for 2023/24.

Inverness Common Good Funding can only be used to principally benefit people living within the geographic area of the former Burgh of Inverness.

The well-subscribed scheme which is fully funded by the Inverness Common Fund will be available to eligible people within the 7 specified Inverness Wards of Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and Inverness South.

At the City of Inverness Area Committee held on 4 November 2022, Members agreed to a one-off increase to the single tier payment for eligible applicants to £150 using a predicted underspend in the Inverness Common Good at that time.

For the 2023/24 Winter Payment Councillors agreed an award of £106 for eligible applicants in 2023/24.

Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Ian Brown, said: “Last year in 2022/23 1,694 households received payments from the Inverness Area Winter Payments Scheme. These payments, and other packages of financial support are a lifeline for many individuals.

“The Winter Payment of £106 for those eligible will have a positive impact on individuals struggling financially and to people receiving disability benefits, who are also more likely to be negatively impacted by increased costs of living.”

Applications will open and be accepted from 1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 dates inclusive.

New applications for this winter’s scheme will be accepted from 1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 (inclusive). The Council will undertake further promotion for the 2023/24 Inverness Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme in due course.

The Worrying About Money? guide covers information for people waiting for claims to be assessed as well as those already receiving benefits. Topics including advice on what to do if anyone finds themselves having a sudden loss of income or if their statutory sick pay does not cover their living expenses. There is also information on how to apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund, maximising income and benefit advice, debt advice and how to challenge a decision.

Alternatively, The Welfare Support Team provide free, impartial and confidential support to claim all benefits and entitlements. Contact the Welfare Support Team by: phone 0800 090 1004 or; email welfare.support@highland.gov.uk.

Members also agreed a Motion by Councillor David Gregg that: “This committee agrees to re-review the Inverness Winter Payment Scheme at its meeting in November 20th to look at repurposing any underspend in the Inverness Common Good Fund into an increased payment award for the Inverness Winter Payment Scheme as done in the previous 2 years.”