People urged to claim £150 grant 'as soon as possible'…

People urged to claim £150 grant 'as soon as possible' as deadline approaches

Households are being warned they could miss out on a £150 grant to help towards energy costs if they don’t claim it in time.

The rebate, unveiled by former chancellor Rishi Sunak in April, aims to help households in council tax bands A-D to help cope with rising energy bills. It is believed that over a million eligible households have still not applied for the rebate.

For many, the rebate was given out automatically, but those who do not use direct debit as a way to pay for their council tax have been asked to apply manually to the council for the grant.

The Government has now given councils a deadline of September 30 to pay the funds, reports The Mirror. There are fears that huge numbers could miss out on the allocated money.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “This is a botched Government scheme which leaves families and pensioners out in the cold. It was clear from the start that payments were never going to reach some of those who need it most. Now time is running out to save people from catastrophic energy bills.”

He added: "It is a national disgrace that pensioners in Britain will be choosing between heating and eating this winter. Yet we have a zombie government refusing to act even when their own half-baked programmes are proved to be unworkable."

Andrew Western, Trafford councillor and North West representative for the Local Government Association, said councils had “worked hard” to distribute the £150, but it “has been a significant task and not without its challenges”.

The rebate was unveiled by former chancellor Rishi Sunak in April (Getty Images)

He added: “Anyone who is eligible for the £150 payment, but who has not claimed for it yet, should contact their council as soon as possible.”

Councils have been ordered to run “pre-payment checks” on people who apply to ensure they are eligible and don’t miss out.

The Lib Dems analysed responses to Freedom of Information requests they sent in mid-July to 155 councils.

Leeds had 70,000 eligible non-direct debit residents who had not applied. The London boroughs of Hackney, Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets had 45,000, 33,000 and 32,000.

Cornwall Council had nearly 30,000 residents who had not applied while Hull and Bournemouth each had nearly 20,000. Four councils still do not have payment processes in place and have spoken to Local Government Minister Paul Scully.

Councils say they have invited applications online and by phone, and have offered bank account transfers, vouchers and Post Office payments.

But town, city and county halls will no longer be refunded by the government for any £150 payments they make after September 30. They can continue to use a £144m discretionary fund but only until November 30.

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