Thousands of people in Wirral could have to wait longer for their £150 Council Tax rebate.
Last month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that people in Council Tax bands A to D will receive a £150 rebate funded by government grants.
The move was made as part of plans to tackle what some have called the ‘cost of living crisis’, but huge numbers of residents could face serious difficulty in getting the money.
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Under the government’s scheme, in April the £150 payment will automatically be paid into the bank accounts of people in Band A to D properties who pay their Council Tax by direct debit.
In Wirral, 89% of households, 134,120 in total, are in bands A to D.
However, it has emerged that those who pay their bill in different ways, usually by cash or cheque, are not only likely to have to wait for their rebate but will also face having to apply for it.
This affects well over 40,000 households in Wirral.
A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “There are around 46,000 households in Wirral that don’t pay by direct debit but will be eligible for the payment.
“We will be acting in line with government guidance to ensure that any household that is eligible for the payment receives it as promptly as possible.”
The £150 rebate will be especially important to Wirral residents, as Council Tax is going up by 2.99% from April, meaning a typical Band D property will be charged £61.34 more per year.
Total Council Tax for Wirral in 2022-23:
- Band A: £1,368.39
- Band B: £1,596.45
- Band C: £1,824.51
- Band D: £2,052.58
- Band E: £2,508.71
- Band F: £2,964.83
- Band G: £3,420.97
- Band H: £4,105.16
The Council Tax increase is part of a package of measures Wirral Council is adopting in order to save £20m in the upcoming financial year, after two government reports slated the authority for failing to take tough decisions.
The council plans to save this money by withdrawing funding for Woodchurch Leisure Centre, nine libraries, two public golf courses and more, although local groups will be given several months to take them over and keep them going.
But Council Tax is just one bill that residents have to face.
Rising energy costs are triggering huge pressures on living costs, with millions set to pay £693 per year more from April.
To deal with this, the Chancellor has said households will get £350 to support them with their energy bills.
