Financial Support
Flood Recovery Support Payments
Financial support for residents
The Council is providing financial support to help residents impacted by Storm Babet. This includes:
- a £350 grant direct to each flooded household;
- a promise that those households do not have to pay any council tax for the period from 21 October until at least the end of March next year.
The Council has provided a £20,000 contribution to the South Yorkshire Community Foundation JustGiving flood disaster appeal. Through this contribution an extra £150 payment will be made for every flooded household.
The Council holds a list of properties that it is aware were flooded or where the property was unliveable for a period of time as a result of this flood incident. For these properties, where the Council holds the residents banking details through Council Tax Direct Debits, payments will be made automatically. If the Council does not hold banking details then residents are asked to register their details to allow payment to be made.
The Government has also announced plans to support flood-hit areas. To find out more information, click here. Under these measures it is expected that Government will provided funding for;
- a grant of up to £500 direct to each flooded household to give cash quickly to help with immediate costs.
- Households and businesses significantly affected by recent flooding will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least three months.
- Small-to-medium sized businesses in affected areas will be eligible for up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant to help them return quickly to business as usual.
- Eligible flood-hit property owners will be able to apply for up to £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding via the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.
At present Government have announced these schemes and are due to provide scheme guidance to Local Authorities, to allow the Council to provide the support.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Flood Recovery Support Payment, your property must have been flooded as defined by the Council, meaning that "water is above floor level in habitable areas of the house".
If your garden was flooded but water did not enter your property, you will not be eligible, unless your residence is considered unliveable for a period of time as a result of the flood incident.
Register your details
If you are eligible for the Council's Flood Recovery Support Payment, you will receive a £350 payment directly into your bank account. We will make the payments automatically if you pay your Council Tax by direct debit and we already hold your bank account records. If we do not hold your bank account records, click here to register details for your payment.
Council tax relief
For all affected properties, you will also receive a 100% discretionary relief on your council tax bill for the period 21st October 2023 until at least 31st March 2024. We are working through this on a property-by-property basis and bills will be reissued as soon as possible. If you pay your council tax by direct debit, please do not cancel your payments. We will issue refunds for any overpayments.
Contents insurance for housing tenants
Please call 01709 336009 option 3, for housing tenants. An advisor will be able to take your information and pass on a content insurance claim.
We would advise anyone who has previously been affected by flooding to consider taking necessary precautions, keep a close watch on weather updates and follow the advice provided.