HARD-up residents in Blackburn with Darwen are to get millions of pounds of support to weather the cost of living crisis.

Council chiefs will give more than 12,000 residents an 80 per cent discount on their council tax bills with some pensioners paying nothing.

It will also provide extra help for those on benefits and low incomes through Household Support Fund (HSF) payments. Both schemes are backed by government grants.

A new council tax support scheme for 2023/24, worth £406,100, has been confirmed, offering thousands of borough residents a discount of 80 per cent or more.

Councillors also voted through the maximum 4.99 per cent council tax rise for the coming year.

And on Thursday the borough’s ruling executive will be asked to approve the details of how the HSF’s £3.24m will be spent in the 12 months from April. It is expected to help more than 24,000 families.

The two schemes support those in financial hardship with a range of measures including support with energy bills, council tax, food, cost of essential white good and debt advice.

The cash help for the vulnerable was welcomed by Tory group leader Cllr John Slater and Darwen East Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Browne. But both criticised the authority’s Labour administration’s decision to impose the maximum council tax rise.

Council leader Cllr Phil Riley said: “We are using the resources made available to use to ease the pressure of the cost of living crisis on our residents.

“The council tax increase was needed to provide services for all our residents particularly for adult and children’s social care. It was the government which required us to do this.”

Cllr Slater said: “Once again the government is on the side of working people. This extra cash for residents on low incomes is much needed in the face of the current cost of living crisis.

“It is even more necessary as the borough’s Labour leaders have decided to bang the maximum council tax increase of 4.99 per cent on them.”

Cllr Browne said: “If these schemes are run properly this is a good thing.

“But the council imposing the maximum 4.49 per cent rise in council tax is going to make thing much worse for residents of the borough, especially in my ward.”

In a executive report health and wellbeing boss Cllr Damian Talbot says: “On November 17 the government announced a further £1bn nationally to extend the HSF for a further 12 months. This grant funding must be used by March 31, 2024.

“On February 20 the council received confirmation that a further £3.238m had been allocated to Blackburn with Darwen. The original objective of the fund was to support vulnerable households in most need over the winter.

“It has been recognised further support is required as the cost of living crisis begins to impact further beyond recovery from the pandemic. Resources remain from the HSF allocation for 2022/23 of £645,000.

“It is proposed a significant proportion of this be used to extend the free school meal offer where possible or to support families who are experiencing food poverty or insecurity in other ways.

“The position over the summer school holidays will be factored into plan.”

Under the council tax support scheme working age claimants in Band A and B terraced houses whose income is no greater than the set amount for living expenses will qualify for an 80 per cent reduction on their bill but if they live in a property in band C or above, they qualify for an 80 per cent reduction of the bill for a band B property; Most pensioners receiving state pension credit will qualify for a full reduction on their council tax bill with the benefits for wealthier ones being calculated on a sliding scale.