Thousands of households across Merseyside are still waiting for their £150 council tax grant
Earlier this year it was announced that support will be given to millions across the UK to help with rising energy bills. Everyone who lives in council tax bands A-D will see a discount automatically applied to their bill in April.
But not everybody who is eligible will see the money land in their bank account next month. This is because you need to have a direct debit payment set up for your council tax. If you do not, you will instead be "invited" to claim the money back from your local authority. You can still get the money this way, but it may take longer and be more hassle.
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Payments have already been made across the UK, but some people have expressed concerns that they have not received theirs. We contacted councils across Merseyside for their latest updates.
Knowsley
Knowsley Council has paid almost 40,000 rebates to direct debit payers since the scheme began back in April, with it still ongoing. Those not on a direct debit will be contacted by the Post Office during June when letters will be issued.
A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: "Payments to residents who pay by direct debit commenced on 14 April 2022 and we have paid 37,955 rebates to direct debit payers. The Council has approximately 38,800 direct debit payers in total and the overwhelming majority of the difference will be those households in properties in bands E to H, who are not eligible to the £150 rebate.
"For residents who do not pay their Council Tax via Direct Debit, the Post Office will be writing out to eligible residents throughout June with details about collecting their payment at their local branch."
Liverpool
Around 20,000 households on direct debit are yet to receive their payment across Liverpool, however there is an aim for completion by the end of May. The council confirmed they will soon be announcing how people on standing order, or who get it in their benefits, can apply and also sending out letters.
Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jane Corbett, said: "This has been a huge undertaking as there are around 225,000 eligible households in Liverpool. We have made over 90,000 payments since the beginning of May out of the 110,000 people who pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit as we already have their account details on our Council system, with the remaining households using Direct Debit being paid within the next few days.
"Alongside that we are setting up a straightforward application system for those 115,000 people who don’t pay by Direct Debit and will be announcing those details shortly. So many people right across the city are now really struggling to make ends meet.
"Please don’t forget that we have support systems in place to help where we can. So please do contact us via our freephone number (0800 456 1523) for our Liverpool Citizens Support Scheme or for benefits advice you can ring us on 0800 028 3697. Details can also be found at liverpool.gov.uk/benefits. "
Sefton
Around 67,000 people with a direct debit in Sefton have already been paid as the process continues.
S council spokesperson said: "We have paid out over £9.8 million of the one-off, £150 Council Tax Energy rebate payments to the almost 67,000 eligible Council Tax Band A to D households that pay by their Council Tax by Direct Debit. We have also written to around 40,000 eligible households who don’t pay by Direct Debit asking them to register for payment and over 21,600 have use the unique 14-character security code we supplied to them to sign up.
"Those security codes have now expired and will no longer work but we will be sending out reminders with new codes early next week. People can find out more about the process in Sefton at www.sefton.gov.uk/energyrebate."
Wirral
Wirral Council is processing payments for those on direct debits first, which will be paid directly into bank accounts. In March, Wirral Council said around 46,000 households do not pay by direct debit but will be eligible for the payment.
Those not on direct debit will be written to with details on how to complete. More information can be found online here. A council spokesperson previously said: "We will be writing to all those who pay Council Tax by other means – and therefore for whom we do not have the relevant bank details – towards the end of May/early June with details [of] how to claim the rebate."
