Households face waiting six months for £150 council tax rebate in big bill blow

HOUSEHOLDS are facing six month delays for their £150 council tax rebate despite battling against crippling price hikes.

Millions were told the one-off cash help would start landing in accounts from April 1, after chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the support back in February.

It’s to help households battling against a crippling cost of living crisis – and is available to anyone living in properties falling under council tax bands A-D.

But just a fraction of local authorities have dished the help out to struggling households, The Telegraph reports.

Some have indicated that payments would be delayed until September – leaving households who need the cash now to help ease the squeeze in the lurch.

Those councils who could delay payments up until September include North Tyneside Council – which described the rebate scheme as a “significant challenge” – Hastings Council and Colchester Council.

Some of the delays have been down to software systems. According to reports, technology needed to pay the cash in one go to all households is coming up against issues.

While some councils are trying to set up systems for those households who don’t pay council tax via direct debit to apply for the help – because they can’t get the payment automatically.

Angry households have taken to Twitter asking where their £150 rebate is.

One taxpayer tweeted: “Still waiting on my council tax rebate.”

While another tweeted at Plymouth County Council: “Any news on when we can expect our council tax rebate?”

Another taxpayer tweeted at Coventry County Council: “Have you tried paying the council tax rebate yet?”

When will I get paid my £150 council tax rebate?

While some households are facing months worth of delays, others are seeing the cash land in their accounts now.

Households living in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London and those in the West Midlands are seeing the money land in their accounts already.

Residents in Hull lucked out earlier than most when they saw the cash enter their bank accounts earlier this week.

If you still haven’t received yours, there are ways to check when you’ll be paid.

You should check who your local council is by using the gov.uk council finder tool online.

More information about the rebate and when it will be paid should be listed on your authority’s website.

If it’s not, then it’s worth ringing up and asking for more details.

Not all local authorities have confirmed how it will be paid, so you might have to wait.

Some will still let you sign up to pay by direct debit to get the grant sooner.

If you don’t pay by direct debit, your council should list more information on what to do in order to get the cash.

Why is my £150 rebate delayed?

Aside from local council delays to dishing out the cash, there are other reasons why your £150 council tax rebate might be delayed.

It might be because you pay your council tax bill manually.

Having a direct debit set up means the council has your details and can process the £150 payment automatically.

If you don’t pay direct debit and make a payment each month manually, you may have to apply for the cash which can take longer.

Many councils are only making the payment after the first council tax bill payment has been made for April.

So if your bill date is later in the month, for instance the 28th, you might have to wait until after this goes out.