Council Tax £150 energy rebate
Overview
Earlier this year the Government announced a one-off energy rebate of £150 to help with rising fuel costs.
Most households in Council Tax bands A to D will receive the rebate.
Second homes and empty properties will not benefit.
The payment is being provided to support all residents of the household.
If you are on a low income, and in Council Tax bands E to H, you may be eligible for a discretionary payment.
If you are not sure which Council Tax band your property is in, you can check your Council Tax band online.
See the full eligibility criteria.
Applications are now closed
The last date to apply for the rebate was Friday 10 June 2022.
Post Office cash payments
We are using the Post Office to make a £150 cash payment to residents where we have been unable to verify their bank details.
We are writing to those who are affected with information about how to claim.
If you do not collect your payment from the Post Office within the time period, we will credit your Council Tax account with £150 as a last resort to make sure you get the money that is due to you.
Post Office cash paymentsPost Office cash payments
We are using the Post Office to make a £150 cash payment to residents where we have been unable to verify their bank details.
This includes residents who:
- have applied for the rebate, but the details they provided do not exactly match the information held by their bank
- have recently opened a new bank account, or
- are customers with a bank that isn't signed up to a system that can verify their details
How to claim
If you are affected, you will receive a letter which includes a barcode you can use to collect a cash payment from any Post Office branch.
You will need to take your letter along with ONE of the following documents:
- Passport or Driver's Licence
- National Identity Card or HM Armed Forces ID Card
- Over 60's Concessionary Bus Pass with photo ID
- Bank statement from the last 3 months (showing your name and address)
- Utility bill from the last 3 months (showing your name and address)
- Debit or credit card (showing your name)
Please DO NOT destroy your letter - you need it to collect your payment from the Post Office.
You need to collect your payment within one month from the date of your letter.
If you don't claim
If you do not collect your payment from the Post Office within the time period, we will credit your Council Tax account with £150 as a last resort to make sure you get the money that is due to you.
Your Council Tax bill for 2022/23 will be reduced by £150 and we will send you a new bill.
Eligibility
Households in Council Tax bands A to D will receive the £150 Council Tax rebate.
Second homes and empty properties will not benefit.
The energy rebate is being provided on the basis that you were liable to pay Council Tax (or would have been if the property were not exempt) and that the property met the criteria below on 1 April 2022:
- It is valued in Council Tax bands A to D. This includes property that is valued in band E but has an alternative valuation band of band D, as a result of the disabled band reduction scheme.
- It is someone's sole or main residence.
- It is a chargeable dwelling (Council Tax is payable on the property), or in exemption classes N, S, U or W*, and
- The person who is liable to pay the Council Tax (or would be were the property not exempt) is not a local authority, a corporate body or other body such as a housing association, the government or governmental body.
* Class N (students - other than Houses in Multiple Occupation for Council Tax purposes)
Class S (under 18s)
Class U (people with a severe mental impairment)
Class W (annexes occupied by a dependent relative)
If you receive the rebate but do not meet this criteria
If you receive the rebate but do not meet the above criteria, you must tell the Council Tax team on 0191 424 4330 and the rebate may recovered.
If you are on a low income
If you are on a low income, and in Council Tax band E to H, you may be eligible for a discretionary payment.
Discretionary payments (for those on low incomes in band E to H)
If you are on a low income, and in Council Tax bands E to H, you may be eligible for a discretionary payment.
More information about the discretionary scheme will be released in due course.
Please keep checking these webpages for updates.
Watch out for scams
Scammers are targeting residents in connection with the £150 energy rebate.
The scammers are claiming to be from the Council, and asking residents for their bank details.
PLEASE do NOT provide ANY information. This is a scam.
The Council will never call or visit you to ask for this information.
More information
Information from the government
Read the government leaflet about the £150 Council Tax rebate.
See GOV.UK: Households urged to get ready for £150 Council Tax rebate.