Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published • loading... • Updated

Healey Unveils £100 Household Payment and Fuel Duty Freeze in First Budget

The one-off payment will cost £2.6 billion and be funded by a temporary bank tax surcharge as energy bills keep rising.

  • On Wednesday, Chancellor John Healey announced a one-off £100 winter energy payment for 20 million households in council tax bands A to D, paid directly into bank accounts to help with rising energy bills.
  • To finance the £2.6 billion scheme, the government will impose a three-point rise in the bank surcharge for 15 months beginning in January, on top of the standard 25% corporation tax rate.
  • Alongside the payment, the government extended the VAT cut on electricity through July and announced plans to scrap gas standing charges, expected to save 60% of households an average of £45 annually.
  • The government's council tax band checker website crashed shortly after the announcement, while Healey urged Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to provide similar support using their allocated share of funding.
  • While intended to provide relief during global economic storms, campaigners warned the £100 payment may barely dent predicted January bill hikes, as the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast economic growth will slow to 1% next year.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions

162 Articles

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Reuters broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal