Tuesday 17 May 2022 08:58 AM Millions of households still waiting for £150 council tax rebate, with the ... trends now
The council tax rebate designed to offset soaring energy bills is being held back from some of Britain's poorest families, a charity has warned.
Councils in England and Wales were expected to start paying the £150 sums in April, but a report by National Energy Action (NEA) has found millions are still waiting for the aid.
While the government has ordered them to make the payouts without further delay, councils say they are struggling to issue them at short notice.
According to the BBC, people who pay their council tax by direct debit seem to be receiving their rebates before those that do not.
This is because the 331 billing authorities responsible for issuing the funds find it easier to process the payments if they already have a person's banking details.
But the NEA said it is typically the poorest households who do not have direct debits set up, putting them at a disadvantage.
Many do not have bank accounts or manage their finances on a more ad hoc basis.
The rebate was brought in to help struggling families after the energy price cap soared by £693 for the average household from last month.
Councils in England and Wales were expected to start paying the £150 sums in April, but a report by National Energy Action (NEA) has found millions are still waiting for the aid
The council tax rebate is part of a £9.1 billion government support package announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) in February
The government has given councils a final deadline of September to make the payments.
'There are serious concerns that those with the greatest need will be least able to access the money,' said NEA chief executive Adam Scorer.
More than 280 councils have said payments should be made directly into people's bank accounts by the end of May, reports the BBC.
However the vast majority confirmed that those who do not have a direct debit set up were likely to be asked to make an application online or over the phone in the coming weeks.
Just 15 councils said they were sending out Post Office vouchers to those who do not pay by direct debit, which they can exchange for cash.
In areas like Rochdale, more than a third of residents do not pay council tax by direct debit.
Neil Emmott, who leads Rochdale Borough Council, accused the government of not understanding the complexity of the policy.
'I think governments sat in London don't always necessarily know what's taking place,' he told the BBC.
According to the BBC, people who pay their council tax by direct debit seem to be receiving their rebates before those that do not. (Stock image)
'It's not fair, but give me an alternative way to do this?'
He added: 'The most vulnerable need this payment, and we are getting our skates on to get payments to those people as soon as
