Grenfell survivors miss out on Christmas council payment

Kensington and Chelsea Council had promised survivors of the Grenfell Tower (pictured) fire £140 cash to people still living in temporary accomodation after the blaze 

Money promised to survivors of the Grenfell disaster to help with Christmas costs never turned up for some families.

Kensington and Chelsea Council had promised the cash to people still living in temporary accommodation after the fire that killed over 70 people in June.

The £140 per person was intended to help with the extra cost of the festive season – but failed to materialise for 18 households.  

Kim Taylor-Smith, deputy leader of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) council, said: ‘This was our error and we are sorry for this and have taken steps to deal with the households we are aware of.’

Asked how many families have received their Christmas payments after the error came to a light, a council spokesman told MailOnline: ‘At least some have’. 

Cllr Taylor-Smith added: ‘More than 440 additional Christmas food payments of £140 were made before Christmas, on top of the £300 per week, per adult and £150 per week, per child given for food, but unfortunately we have found 18 households that did not receive their additional payment in time for Christmas. 

‘If any other households have not received their additional food allowance payment, they can contact Care for Grenfell, which is open throughout the weekend, and collect a pre-paid credit card with the money on it, which can be used in any outlet.’ 

The £140 per person was intended to help with the extra cost of the festive season - but failed to materalise for 18 households. People are pictured laying floral tributes to the victims of the inferno in west London in June 

The £140 per person was intended to help with the extra cost of the festive season – but failed to materalise for 18 households. People are pictured laying floral tributes to the victims of the inferno in west London in June 

Among the households who did not get a payment before Christmas were 10 who lived in the tower itself and nearby Grenfell Walk where properties were evacuated when the blaze broke out.

The other missed payments were to eight households from the wider Grenfell estate. 

The extra money on top of the council’s weekly sum had been suggested as fears were raised some people, including those with no cooking facilities in hotels, might face higher costs at Christmas.

They were due to be processed on December 19 and in residents’ accounts by December 22. 

Ex-Grenfell residents who are still staying in hotels were given a hotel Christmas dinner on the council.

The local authority has been hit with multiple accusations that they were too slow to deal with the devastating aftermath of the tragedy.

Prime Minister Theresa May originally promised to house Grenfell families left homeless within three weeks of the tragedy – a deadline that was pushed back to Christmas and now the New Year.   

The council has apologised for the error and has 'taken steps to deal with the issue'. Pictured are volunteers sorting through donations after the fire devastated the lives of the families living there 

The council has apologised for the error and has ‘taken steps to deal with the issue’. Pictured are volunteers sorting through donations after the fire devastated the lives of the families living there 



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