Millions Paid Out For Energy Rebate

South Tyneside Council has paid out over £9.5m in the Council Tax Energy Rebate Scheme.

Earlier this year the Government announced a one-off council tax energy rebate of £150 for most households in council tax bands A - D.

The Council started paying Direct Debit customers in April and applications for non-Direct Debit customers opened in May. All applications have now been verified and over 52,000 households have received their payment. The final run of payments is due to hit bank accounts this Friday (17 June).

Around 11,000 customers who did not apply for the council tax energy rebate payment will have their account credited and an amended bill will be issued next week.

A number of customer bank account details have been unable to be verified in accordance with Government guidance and as such a BACS payment has been unsuccessful. Any customer who applied for a payment and who has not received it by Friday 17 June will be issued with a Post Office Voucher to exchange for cash. Around 4,000 people will receive Post office Vouchers as a form of payment and the Council is working with the Post Office to issue these at the end of June.

Cllr Joanne Bell, Lead Member for Governance, Finance and Corporate Services at South Tyneside Council said: "We have tried every avenue to ensure that eligible households receive their energy rebate payment. Giving customers the option of account credit or cash back. I'd like to thank everyone for their patience during the process which has been a huge undertaking requiring new software, systems and processes.

"We have worked as swiftly as possible to process payments and ensure that people get the money that is owed to them by whatever means. By July 2022 we expect that all 67,000 eligible households will have received their £150 council tax energy rebate."