THE much-anticipated Council Tax energy rebate is set to start being paid out in Brighton and Hove this month.
The government announced the refund earlier this year in response to soaring energy bills, with payments being administered by local authorities for all households in municipal tax bands A to D.
This means that four in five households in England will benefit, including around 95% of rented properties. However, second homes or empty properties will not benefit.
Councils have until September 30 to pay the £150 rebate to all eligible residents and the one-off payment does not need to be refunded.
How to save on your energy bills
It is available to all households in bands A to D, including those receiving local tax relief, even if their council tax bill is less than £150 for the year.
How will the residence tax rebate be paid?
In Brighton and Hove, people who pay council tax by direct debit will automatically have the £150 paid into their bank account.
If you are not already paying by direct debit, you can sign up for the service. This will ensure that the rebate is paid to you promptly.
For those who don’t pay council tax by direct debit, Brighton and Hove Council will confirm how the rebate will be paid to you – they have yet to give details on this.
What to do if you are not eligible for the residence tax reduction?
Councils will receive an additional £144m to provide support for vulnerable households who may not be eligible for the £150 council tax refund.
This includes low-income people in EH municipal tax brackets.
How do I know in which housing tax bracket I fall?
You can check by visiting the government website here.
Scam warning to all residents awaiting council tax refund
Councils have warned residents of criminals who cold-call households asking for bank details to receive the government’s £150 energy rebate – local authorities have stressed they will never ask for bank details over the phone.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said anyone who unexpectedly receives a text message, email or phone call requesting information or payment should not give out personal information, including bank details, click on links or respond until it can be sure it is genuine.
If in doubt, owners should find the details of the organization claiming to be in contact online and check with them directly.
“If you receive a message that you think is fraudulent, you can report it to your mobile operator or by forwarding the message to 7726, a free reporting service provided by telephone operators.
“You should also report the scam to Action Fraud to help others avoid falling victim to it in the future.”
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.theargus.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-19 09:51:32
