Energy bill rebate

Earlier this year the government announced a package of support to help households with rising bills.

Every eligible household in property bands A to D is entitled to the £150 energy rebate, including those in receipt of council tax reduction (CTR).

To be eligible for the rebate, households must have met all the following criteria on April 1 2022. The property must be:

· in council tax bands A–D. This includes property that is valued in band E, but has an alternative valuation band of D, because of the disabled reduction scheme

· be occupied

· someone’s sole or main residence

The government also provided funding for a discretionary scheme, aimed at those in greater need of support.

Under the discretionary scheme Dudley Council is providing:

· A single automatic one-off payment of £150 to any household in council tax band E-H that is in receipt of council tax reduction

· A single automatic top-up payment of £30 to any household in council tax band A-H that is in receipt of council tax reduction.

This means that anyone in properties band A-H in receipt of council tax reduction on 1/4/2022 will receive a total of £180 energy support.

If you had already received a payment of £150 (Bands A-D), then a further £30 payment will be made. If you have not received an energy support payment, but now qualify for the Discretionary Scheme (because you live in a band E-H property and are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction) then you will receive a one-off payment of £180.

Households who pay their council tax by direct debit will have the payments made automatically into the bank account the direct debit is taken from.

Households who do not pay their council tax pay by direct debit, or who receive 100% CTR, need to apply online for the rebate. Once their application has gone through for the main scheme (£150), if they are entitled to the £30 top-up, this will automatically be paid into the account details provided.

For more details about the scheme and to apply for the rebate visit www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/council-tax/council-tax-rebate/