The Isle of Wight Council says that it is hoping to make payment of the £150 Council Tax rebate during the months of April and May.
It was on 3rd February that the Government announced support to help households with rising energy bills including a one-off non-repayable £150 energy rebate to council tax payers in bands A- D.
Eligible households for the £150 rebate will be identified and paid using council tax information. This payment is to support with the rising costs of energy and is not a direct reduction in the amount of council tax you pay.
Each household will receive one payment of £150 and the council must make this payment directly to the persons named on your council tax bill.
The team are currently working to set up the system to make these payments as soon as possible during April/May. Payments will be paid to direct debit payers automatically, so no action is needed if you pay by Direct Debit. Those who do not pay by direct debit will be contacted in due course to provide bank details.
The Council is in the process of setting up the local discretionary scheme to support those in need, but who are not entitled to the £150 payment. More details will be provided as they become available.
In addition to the £150 rebate, a £200 discount on energy bills for domestic electricity customers in Great Britain will come into play this Autumn. This will be paid back automatically over the next 5 years. This scheme will not be administered by the council.
from part 24 of government guidance “As part of the claims process, councils can choose whether to offer £150 credit to an eligible household’s council tax account as a payment option.” this would make more sense rather than contacting people asking for bank details. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-council-tax-rebate-2022-23-billing-authority-guidance/support-for-energy-bills-the-council-tax-rebate-2022-23-billing-authority-guidance
Don’t understand why, when they set up your direct debits the first payment couldn’t have been £150 less.
I would rather they sent a cheque rather than risk giving out my bank details!
banks police say dont give your bank details out over the phone but the council say its alright up yours council you wont get my details over the phone send me a cheque
Why wasn’t this set up already? I suspect the major obstacle here is the necessity to pass the IWC’s ‘Means Test’.
As in it ‘means’ someone actually has to do the job they are paid to do. Most IWC services fail at this ‘Means Test’.
it is because they want to ensure that you can pay them immediately, with a system in place to ensure they get use of the funds you pay, instantly, however, any refund/rebate to you, must be claimed on parchment, using a quill and ink, then sent to the council by carrier pigeon. This ensures any money coming back to you, takes as long as possible.
Why so long! If it was us expecting to pay them it’ll be less than 2 weeks before being served a notice, it’s money we are entitled to and there should be no issues with reimbursement through direct debit, just the council being the council
Typical council hang on to the money for as long as possible to get the interest on it I know other councils that had all this set up and are already paying the money out to those who are entitled to it