A £150 payment to help alleviate the cost of living crisis is set to start being paid in May.

The cost of living scheme, which offers a £150 payment to eligible households, is to be administered by Powys County Council.

The council is running the Cost of Living Support Scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government, which is similar to the council tax rebate scheme in England.

As part of the main scheme, a £150 cost of living payment will be paid out to council taxpayers living in property bands A to D as well as council taxpayers who are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction, regardless of their band.

In addition, a discretionary scheme will also be established by the council to help support households who may be struggling but do not fulfil the criteria in the main scheme. Details of this discretionary scheme are currently under development and will be announced when ready.

For all schemes, each household is restricted to only one payment of £150.

The council hopes to start making the payments into validated bank accounts in May.

The council will use its Council Tax and Council Tax Reduction Scheme records to identify households eligible under the scheme.

If you pay your council tax by direct debit, you do not need to apply and the council will put the £150 payment directly into your bank account.

If the council does not have your bank details, you will receive a letter with a unique code to provide those details online. You cannot apply until you have received the unique code.