The easiest way is to sign up to direct debits
In just over two weeks’ time the government will be handing out a £150 council tax rebate.
The payment, which comes amid rising council tax, gas, oil and energy bills, aims to soften the blow for millions of taxpayers sitting in bands A-D.
It’s a one-off cash sum which doesn’t need to be repaid by households, and which will be distributed by local councils.
Thousands, however, could miss out on getting their hands on the rebate early because they’re not signed up to direct debit.
There are plenty of ways to prepare for the payment. Here’s a council by council breakdown of how to get ready.
South Kesteven District Council tax payers can fill in a self-service form to switch to direct debit online here.
The authority said it is hoping to pay those taking part by the end of April, but warns those who pay by other methods may have to wait longer.
Cabinet Member for Finance Councillor Adam Stokes said: “Please don’t worry if you cannot pay in this way – you won’t miss out on the payment, it will simply take a little longer to process.”
An application form will be made available on our website in the coming weeks and further details will be issued as the scheme is developed.
Further details and a link to the appropriate forms will be available at www.southkesteven.gov.uk/rebate
Residents will again need to fill out an application form, and all payments will be processed by your local council.
The councils are now urging people to sign up to pay their council tax by direct debit in order to receive a £150 one-off amount, paid directly into their bank account. Those who pay by another method could see this rebate payment delayed.
A joint statement from portfolio holders for finance, Councillor Jonathan Noble, Boston Borough Council, Councillor Richard Fry, East Lindsey District Council, and Councillor Peter Coupland, South Holland District Council said: “We have seen many articles by Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, who supports this payment method and says it is the easiest, safest and securest way of paying your council tax and the quickest way of getting your rebate by April 2022.”
For those without direct debit, application forms will be issued “in the coming weeks” according to the three councils, with further details due “as the scheme is developed.
For more, visit:
North Kesteven District Council and City of Lincoln Council’s Revenues and Benefits shared service said it is working hard on preparations to pay the rebate to eligible households.
The rebate will not show as a discount on households’ annual Council Tax bill. Residents should pay Council Tax as shown on their annual bill which will be sent out soon.
They said there was no need to make contact unless you have recently moved and have not registered for Council Tax yet, or you are moving to a new property on or before April 1, 2022.
When the rebate is available the direct debit details held for Council Tax will be used to help pay the £150 straight into bank accounts.
Those without direct debits will be contacted by the councils, and are asked not to call if their payment has not gone in within the first few weeks.
The team said it will take time to contact residents given the number of households it may apply to.
The team also warned it is not yet contacting bill payers to ask for bank details for the rebate.
They asked residents to check if anyone suspicious gets in touch before April 1, or if a third party offers to claim the rebate for them.
For more information visit:
City of Lincoln Council: https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/c/pay-council-tax-direct-debit to sign up for direct debits or https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-energy-rebate/1 for more information on rebates.
North Kesteven: https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/residents/council-tax-and-housing-benefit/pay-your-council-tax/ to sign up for direct debits or https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/residents/sustainability-what-can-you-do/rising-energy-bills-2022/council-tax-energy-rebate/ for more on rebates.
West Lindsey District Council is waiting for government guidance on how to administer the payment and funding for the discretionary scheme.
A leaflet will be going out with everyone’s council tax bill explaining how to get the rebate in West Lindsey.
Nova Roberts, assistant director, change management and regulatory services, at West Lindsey District Council, said the authority anticipated the payment would be made in April or May.
“The payments will be made via direct debit but we are currently in conversation with central government about how we can offer the payment to those who currently pay their Council Tax via a different method,” she said.
“In order to get the payment quickly, we would advise that residents sign up to pay their Council Tax via direct debit, which they can do by signing up via our website.”
For more information, and to keep an eye on the latest updates, visit https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/my-services/council-tax-and-council-bills/money-off-council-tax/council-tax-energy-rebate/
Additional reporting from Jamie Waller via the Local Democracy Reporting Service:
Residents who pay their council tax by direct debit will be the first to receive the rebate. This is expected to begin from mid-May.
Payments will be made to eligible people as soon as possible, and the council advises people there is no need to contact them. If they don’t have the relevant bank details, they will be in touch to ask for them.
To change the way that you pay your council tax, you can visit North East Lincolnshire Council’s website or call 0300 3030164, selecting option one. More information about ways to pay is available online.
North Lincolnshire residents who pay their council tax will direct debit will receive the rebate in their bank account in mid-May. All others will be contacted to see how they would like to receive it.
Councillor Rob Waltham, the leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This timely rebate will assist some 70,000 households across North Lincolnshire. It is part of a number of measures which the government is supporting us with which will build stronger communities as we emerge from the pandemic.
“It is important people get their cash as soon as possible, so signing up for a direct debit means we will have your bank details to hand ready for when the payments are made.”
Residents can sign up to pay their council tax by direct debit by calling 0300 3030164 (option five). They will need their council tax account reference number from their bill and their bank account details to hand.
Alternatively, people can print out a form from North Lincolnshire Council’s website to change their payment method. This should either be sent to the address on the form or emailed to [email protected]
The rebate can be made as soon as the first payment is collected. More information about the rebate is available online.
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