Thursday 14th July
As part of the Citizens Advice Exeter and The Express and Echo weekly advice column we focus on certain benefits, grants and schemes that may help with the cost of living crisis
Over the coming weeks we are going to focus on additional benefits, grants and schemes that may help with the cost of living crisis. .
Get money back if you pay council tax
You can get £150 back from the council to help pay your energy bills – this is called a ‘rebate’.
You’ll get the rebate if you pay council tax and your home is in council tax bands A to D. You can find your band on your council tax bill or check your council tax band on GOV.UK
You’ll only get the rebate if you’re the person who has to pay council tax for your household. Only one person per household will get the rebate.
You’ll get the rebate even if you:
- get a Council Tax Reduction, including a full reduction, and your home is in bands A to D
- get the Disabled Band Reduction discount and your home is in bands A to E
- are subject to immigration control and your biometric residence permit says “no recourse to public funds”
- If you get benefits, the rebate won’t affect them.
If you can’t get the rebate, the council might still offer you financial help. For example, they might help you if you’re in council tax bands E to H and you get certain benefits. Contact your local council to see if they can help you – find your local council on GOV.UK.
How you’ll get the rebate
If you set up a direct debit to pay your council tax before the end of March 2022, your council should pay you automatically. Local councils will start to make the payments directly into bank accounts
If you don’t pay by direct debit or didn’t set up a direct debit before the end of March 2022, you should still get a rebate.
Your local council will contact you – they’ll probably ask you to complete an online form.
After you’ve given the council your details, they’ll make the payment as soon as possible.
If you don’t hear from your council, contact them to check how you can claim the rebate. You should contact them before 30 September 2022 when the scheme closes.
For more information and advice go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk
The information contained in these articles does not constitute advice. Citizens Advice Exeter and The Express and Echo accept no liability for the information published. Citizens Advice Exeter is unable to respond to individual requests for advice through these columns. Copyright Citizens Advice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk