Residents who are hosting Ukrainian guests through the Homes for Ukraine scheme are set to receive top up payments from a council.

East Sussex County Council has announced that it will increase the monthly payment to hosts to “thank them for their continued kindness and generosity” and to reflect the increased costs due to national inflation.

“The cost-of-living crisis coupled with the approach of winter means that many hosts are concerned about the increased costs they face over the coming months,” said Carl Maynard, Conservative councillor and lead member for adult social care and health.

The monthly payments for all hosts will increase by £150 per host per month, for six months from October 2022 to March 2023. The increase will be payable to both existing and new hosts.

Currently, hosts with fewer than five guests receive £350 per month. This will increase to £500 per month under the new scheme.

Hosts accommodating families of five or more will have their monthly payment increased from £500 to £650.

The council hopes that the enhanced payments will enable hosts to continue for as long as possible and encourage them to host beyond the six-month period.

There are already 520 households hosting Ukrainians in East Sussex, and the council says more host families are “desperately needed”.

“We urgently need more host families and I would urge residents who wish to host, or would like to return to hosting, to contact us,” said Cllr Maynard.

The council has also agreed to a one-off incentive payment of £1000 for hosts who host for 12 consecutive months and who are willing to extend their placements beyond that time.

Cllr Maynard said: “As well as thanking those already hosting, we hope that increasing the monthly thank you payment over the winter period will encourage more people to consider hosting in the months ahead.”