Councils across Nottinghamshire have provided updates on the £150 council tax rebate to help with soaring energy bills. Most people who pay via direct debit should have now received their payments, but those who do not are either required to fill out an online form or await a letter informing them of how to proceed.
Households across the county are entitled to a one-off payment of £150 from the Government to help towards the cost of living. People living in band A-D or band E with a disabled relief properties can apply for help through the scheme.
It's not a reduction in the amount of council tax you pay, but a £150 one-off payment to be made directly to a person liable to pay council tax, subject to certain critieria. Chancellor Rishi Sunak recently unveiled a second batch of support measures to help the growing costs of living, including record petrol and diesel prices at the pump and hikes in supermarket food costs.
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One such measure was a one-off windfall tax on energy giants, which the Government U-turned on due to pressure, because they had recorded record profits. So far, Brits, including those in Nottinghamshire, have received a £150 (or more) council tax rebate and the new support measures now include up to £1,200 in grants and payments.
The two most significant include a £400 energy discount for all households and an additional £650 payment for eight million low-income households. But what is the latest for those yet to get their £150 rebate?
Gedling Borough Council
Gedling Borough Council said: "If you do not pay your council tax by direct debit, you will be able to collect your energy bills rebate payment, in cash, at the post office. To do this you will need to await your letter from the Post Office and take that, along with some identification to your nearest post office branch.
"The letter will tell you everything you need to know about how to claim your payment and letters will be sent to around 10,000 households over a three week period starting from 21 June. Please bear with us while these letters are being issued. The staggered delivery is so that we can help to manage demand and cash flow in the borough’s Post Office branches."
In terms of those who pay by Direct Debit but remain yet to get their £150, the council has also provided an update. It adds: "We have now paid the majority of households who pay by Direct Debit, however, some accounts are still awaiting payment as there are some issues with bank details not matching our database that need fixing before a payment can be made.
"This could be as simple as a surname not matching on the bank details or a misspelling. We are working to get these accounts fixed as quickly as possible. We must then wait for a council tax payment to be made into the council to verify the account before we can issue the rebate. Please bear with us as we work through this list as quickly as possible."
Nottingham City Council
A total of 57,000 payments have been made, the council says. It said: "Some transactions were not successful and we will contact these households to confirm bank details in order to resolve quickly.
"We are working on the process for taxpayers who pay their Council Tax by another method where we don’t hold bank details. We will announce shortly details of the process to be followed but please do not contact us yet while we complete all payments to Direct Debit payers and finalise the details of the process.
"We will announce shortly details of the process to be followed but please do not contact us yet while we complete all payments to Direct Debit payers."
It is understood the latest process for those who do not pay by direct debit started last week. The council added: "We are writing to households who do not pay by direct debit and inviting them to claim the rebate online. To make sure residents are not digitally excluded from the process, we have set up a dedicated contact centre to support these households with their application. This process has started this week.”
Mansfield District Council
Mansfield District Council has also given an update. It says anyone who has not received their Council Tax Energy Bills Rebate yet must fill in a short application form on its website to check eligibility.
It says: "Anyone who pays their Council Tax by direct debit and has not received their energy rebate payment should now apply for their payment using the online form. We apologise for the inconvenience but this will now be the quickest way for you to receive your payment.
"All customers who do not pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit will now need to apply for their energy rebate using the online form. The form is quick and easy to complete. You will need to hand, your Council Tax reference which will be on your Council Tax bill, and your bank details if you would like the payment transferring into your bank account.
"The online form also offers an option a £150 credit to an eligible household’s Council Tax account as a payment option where it is unable to pay by alternative methods. Residents needing help completing the online form, should ask a relative, a friend or support worker to assist them."
Broxtowe Borough Council
The council says it has made all payments to those that pay their council tax by Direct Debit. Those who do not must, like Mansfield, fill out an online form.
It says: "If you do not pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit then you will be required to complete the Council Tax Rebate Scheme Application Form.
"You will need evidence of your bank account and the details from your Council Tax bill."
Rushcliffe Borough Council
The council began paying out money to direct debit tax payers very early. Those yet to receive theirs should check eligibility and apply via an online form.
The council added: "Apply using this application form. If you require any help or advice please call 0115 981 9911."
Newark and Sherwood District Council
The council said back in May: "For those who do not pay by direct debit, the District Council will be sending out letters in the next two to three weeks inviting these residents to apply via an online application form. This letter will contain the link needed to access the application form. If residents do not complete the form, the District Council cannot issue the rebate to those individuals."
Ashfield District Council
The council says: "The first round of payments to over 30,000 households, who pay their Council Tax by direct debit, have been made. Once your first Council Tax payment for 2022/23 is paid by direct debit then we will use those bank details to process the payment straight into your bank account.
"To claim your Council Tax rebate you will need to complete an online form to provide us with your bank account details so that we can pay the £150 directly into your bank. Using the online form is the fastest way for you to receive your £150 payment."
Bassetlaw District Council
The council, as of mid-June, said: "Since the beginning of May, we have made payments totalling more than £5million to people in Bassetlaw who regularly pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit.
"If you pay by Direct Debit and have not yet received your rebate, this may be because we require further information from you or need to carry out additional security checks. For this small percentage of residents, you will be contacted in the coming days so that we can send the £150 payment to you.
"Residents who do not pay by Direct Debit will be contacted via email or letter starting from this week. This information will provide instructions on how you can claim the rebate, in addition to a unique verification code that you will need to provide for security purposes.
"In order for the rebate to be processed, you will be asked to visit the Council’s website to provide your details and your unique verification code, in addition to confirming other security questions.
"If you do not have access to the internet, you will be able to contact our Council Tax Team over the phone to provide all of the information we need to process your payment. Please wait until you have received your letter before contacting us."
