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Adur & Worthing Councils said they had written to more than 600 households claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support and living in energy-efficient properties, to offer £150 towards bills and essential items.

Anyone who qualifies for pension credit may also be entitled to other financial support, including housing benefit, a reduction in council tax, help with heating costs and the warm home discount scheme, external.

It said a new licensing scheme, tougher standards, and "the ability to stop housing benefit going to rogue landlords" are part of plans which will be unveiled next week.

The housing benefit bill to support those who can't completely pay their own way is about £20bn and rising, a massive price tag for the taxpayer.

Current benefits paid in this way include housing benefit, Universal Credit and pension credit, a top-up paid to poorer pensioners.