In February, the government announced that households in England in Council Tax Bands A to D would get a £150 lump sum to help with the rising cost of energy bills.
Payments of this emergency energy rebate were due to be made through households’ Council Tax accounts from April.
Why hasn’t everyone who’s eligible received the rebate already?
The scheme was introduced very quickly, leaving councils little time to prepare.
As a result, the main group of people who have been paid so far are those who already pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit because local authorities already have their bank details, so should be able to transfer the money directly into their account. I have seen the messages direct debit payers have got by email from their councils and it is a notification saying they will receive the money within the next five working days.
What if I get a call or text message from the council asking for my bank details to make the payment?
The council will never call you and ask you to give them your bank details over the phone or by text. If you are contacted in this way, it is going to be a scam.
You should never give out your bank details by phone or by text.
How can I safely give the council my bank details to make the payment?
If you are a Croydon resident, you will need to set up an account with grantapproval.uk.
You can find more details of this on the council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk/council-tax-energy-rebate. You can choose whether you want to have the rebate paid into your bank account, receive a Post Office voucher to exchange for cash, or use the rebate to reduce your council tax bill.
How will the Council contact me about this?
If you are eligible for the rebate, you do not need to wait for the council to contact you before registering with grantapproval.uk.
How long will it be until I get my payment?
The deadline for all payments to be made is August 31. If the council cannot get in touch with any residents as the deadline draws closer, they will add the money to the resident’s Council Tax accounts so it is not lost. You can also choose to wait until September to receive the rebate in this way.
Can I get a payment if I am exempt from paying Council Tax?
If you are exempt from paying full Council Tax due to your property or status or because you get full benefit, then you can still get the rebate.
How can I find out more about what Croydon Council is doing about this?
More information can be found on Croydon Council’s website here.
If the cost of living crisis means you are struggling to make essential payments, you can also contact the money advice team at South West London Law Centres for free impartial advice by emailing debt@swllc.org, calling 020 8667 9252.
- Roni Marsh is the money advice team leader at South West London Law Centres
- Visit the Law Centre’s website for the full range of advice and support available
Previous SWLLC advice articles:
- Cost of living crisis – how to claim what you’re entitled to
- Race discrimination at work: giving people a fair hearing
- Sex and sexuality – dealing with workplace discrimination
- Discretionary Housing Payment could help you out of a crisis
- Talking about debt problems is the first step to solving them
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