RESIDENTS in at least a dozen areas will get £150 paid into their bank account from today.
Households in Liverpool, Hastings and Northumberland are among those getting the council tax rebate paid in May to help cover the cost of rising energy bills.
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When you get the £150 council tax payment depends on where you live.
Around four in five households in England in council tax bands A to D are eligible for the cash.
The government announced the help in February and it’s being given out by local councils.
The rebate is a one-off payment into bank accounts, and not a discount on council tax bills.
Payments have already been made to lucky locals in places like Sunderland, Bracknell and East Hampshire.
But delays arranging the payments mean many are still waiting for the vital cash.
Several councils have confirmed May payment dates for many eligible residents.
Thousands more billpayers will get the payment after making their first council tax bill instalment at the end of April.
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Councils are waiting for the first bill payment to go through to confirm that a household is eligible.
Gloucester council for instance said that anyone paying council tax over 12 months by direct debit who paid on April 1 will get the cash in bank accounts the week commencing Monday, May 2.
Those who pay bills on April 22 or 28 will get the £150 by Friday, May 13.
And in Southend on Sea the council said that payments to over 40,000 households were processed on April 29 and should hit bank accounts from Wednesday, May 4.
Here are the local councils which have confirmed May payment dates for many:
- Hammersmith and Fulham – from early to mid May start with direct debit
- Lewisham – from May with direct debit
- Thurrock – from beginning of May
- Sevenoaks – between May 1 and 31 with direct debit
- Liverpool – from May 1
- Wirral – starting in May
- Gloucester – on May 2 if direct debit on April 15 and on 13 May if direct debit made on 22 or 28 April
- Hastings – by end of May
- South Lakeland – aim to start making them in early May
- Halton – from May
- North Tyneside – aiming to make the first payments in May 2022
- Northumberland – by early May with direct debit
- Derby – by middle of May with direct debit
- Southend on Sea – from May 4
- North Hertfordshire – within 15 days of April bill payment
Payments are being made automatically if you pay your council tax bill by direct debit.
If you don’t have this set up then you may have to apply – and this could mean a longer wait for the cash.
Some councils have not yet shared details of how to apply for people without direct debits.
And some local authorities have said that payments won’t start until JUNE because of software updates required to send the rebate – even with a direct debit.
Meanwhile anyone who’ s not eligible for the rebate, for instance households in council tax bands E-H, can apply for a cash payment if they are struggling.
A separate £144million fund has also been launched which local councils can dish out to vulnerable and low income households.
Some councils like Camden have opened applications for the cash worth up to £150.
When will my £150 council tax rebate be paid?
When you get your £150 rebate depends on where you live.
Each council will have different systems, dates can vary, and the scheme is new.
You can check your local council’s website and social media pages for the latest updates on when you will get the cash.
If you have a direct debit set up to make council tax bill payments you’re likely to get yours early than if you pay manually.
If you’re eligible for the rebate but you don’t pay a bill and need to apply you should keep an eye out for a letter.
This could also be the case if you pay your bill manually and the council don’t have bank details on record for you.
Your council will be in touch telling you how to apply for the £150.
But beware of scams where criminals are asking for bank details via text, email or call claiming this is how you get the rebate.
Experts have warned about the red flags to look out for so you don’t lose cash.
If you’re not eligible for the one-off payment you should check whether you qualify for any other help.
You can find out which band you’re in to see if you’re eligible for the automatic scheme, or need to apply to the fund by using the government’s search tool – you just need to enter your postcode.
There are also some exemptions to those in A-D bands, for example if you don’t live in the home.
You could challenge your council tax band if you think it’s wrong, so you don’t miss out on the cash.
But beware a revaluation of your band could put you in a lower band where you pay MORE council tax, so consider the risks.
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your Council Tax bill through a separate scheme.
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