£150 off Council Tax fuel assistance, and those that do not pay Council Tac

I’m quite envious I won’t be receiving any money back we are band E

We are band E too, and won’t get a sou.

Ours was paid into the bank last Friday. No letter was sent or anything.

Our council tax has just gone up from £126 a month to £140. Band B

We are Band E too, so nothing for us

Ours is sending cheques out to those bands eligible who don’t have a direct debit by post.

You do have to pay it back so its not that helpful ,just pushing the problem down the road for people who are struggling with bills.Makes no sense to me

Fraburn. If you have never paid by Direct Debit you should be able to apply, possibly on line. I would check online. If there is nothing there I would ring your council.

It has now changed to being "paid in April" to "from April".

HowVeryDareYou have you checked whether you are eligable for any benefit in regard to your Council Tax.

Oh it’s a loan , of course it is.

The £150 isn't a loan - there is another scheme later in the year which is a loan to be paid back over the next few years, by way of an increase in bills.

paddyann54

You do have to pay it back so its not that helpful ,just pushing the problem down the road for people who are struggling with bills.Makes no sense to me

No you don’t have to pay it back, you are thinking of the £200 fuel subsidy payment that has to be paid back over a few years, 4 or 5 I think. Our council tax hasn’t gone up this year and won’t go up next year and we received our £150 at the beginning of April.

I think our posts came at the same time Riverwalk

www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-rebate-factsheet#do-i-have-to-pay-the-150-back

It doesn’t have to be repaid

If you are receiving Pension Credit you won't automatically receive the £150 from your Local Authority. It is only being automatically paid out to those who make Council Tax payments. However, because you are on a limited income, I believe all Local Authorities are having a discretionary fund to help those who haven't qualified.
Give your Local Council a ring and ask them how you can apply. You do not have to pay this money back.

paddyann54

You do have to pay it back so its not that helpful ,just pushing the problem down the road for people who are struggling with bills.Makes no sense to me

No I don't think so. The two parts of the astonishing generosity are £150 refund if you are in band A to D council tax (not sure if same in Scotland) and the £200 which every household will get and which will have to be repaid over the next 5 years.

Sorry. I see this has already been answered.

We won’t get anything either. Yet another example of governments deciding who can afford what based on arbitrary criteria.

People living in band E may be eligible if vulnerable or on a low income. My local council hasn’t come up with a scheme to apply this yet. Has yours?

I’m not getting it either - not complaining, but my income and savings are far less than my BF who has just downsized and banked £250K and qualifies. I suppose using A-D is the cheapest and most efficient way to pass on the ‘rebate’.

It's automatically paid for those on Direct Debit arrangements - but there's an online claim form for others who pay by Standing order or cash etc. also those in Band E who've had homes adapted (e.g. disabled bathroom extension):

www.grantapproval.co.uk

That's worth knowing about adapted homes Hetty.

I think the decision to use the council tax system was because it was the quickest way to get to "households". They used this system in Australia too I believe. I think you could say it is blunt but directed.

Maggierose

People living in band E may be eligible if vulnerable or on a low income. My local council hasn’t come up with a scheme to apply this yet. Has yours?

Mine is a Tory council, so I won’t hold my breath. I wonder why people on Band D aren’t means tested, but those on Band E are?

My council, Labour, will hang on to the £150 until the very last moment. I do not expect to see a penny until September.

Maggierose

People living in band E may be eligible if vulnerable or on a low income. My local council hasn’t come up with a scheme to apply this yet. Has yours?

From my Council's web site:

To support as many people as we can, we will provide:

£150 for households in bands E to H who are in receipt of council tax support or are exempt from council tax on health grounds

£100 for households in bands A to D who are in receipt of council tax support and have children living in the property

So they are including the two catagories you suggest Maggierose