Don't pay your council tax bill by direct debit? Check now to see how and when you'll get your £150 rebate
If you don't pay your council tax by direct debit it's likely you've yet to receive your free £150 energy rebate from the Government. To help you find out when and how you're expected to get your money, we've put together this council-by-council guide.
Update 28 July 2022: Nearly 80% of households in council tax bands A-D in England have now received their £150 payment, according to the latest figures from the Government. If you haven't got yours, check below to see if there's anything you need to do to claim it.
Under the rebate scheme, councils are making a £150 non-repayable payment to households in council tax bands A to D in England, Scotland and Wales.
While most councils have prioritised getting the money to households that pay their council tax bill by direct debit first, all have now released information on how they expect to pay those who pay their council tax bill by other means. As it's now too late to set up a direct debit to receive the money, you'll instead get your rebate another way.
We looked at the websites of all 332 councils across England and Wales that are responsible for paying the rebates. Here are the different payment methods we found:
Complete a form online and get paid into your bank account. This is the most common payment route for people who don't pay by direct debit and our research shows it is being used by 274 councils. The forms allow you to share your bank details with your council safely, so it can put the £150 directly into your account. Some of the forms will require you to provide a unique code, and this'll likely be contained in a letter sent by your council – so keep a look out for that.
If you have the option of filling in an online form but don't, your council will either apply the £150 rebate as a credit to your council tax account (reducing your monthly bill) or send you a Post Office voucher. Deadlines for filling in the form differ by council, and some have already passed – so if you want the cash, complete the form as soon as you can.
A voucher to be redeemed at the post office. Forty-six councils have said they will send you a letter in the post containing a unique barcode that you'll be able to take to any of the UK's 11,500 post office branches to receive the £150. Use the Post Office's branch finder tool to find your nearest.
A credit applied to your council tax account. Nine councils in England and Wales have said they will apply the £150 credit to the council tax accounts of all eligible households. If you owe your council money, this'll reduce that amount. But it's still worth contacting your council to see if it will refund the £150 as cash.
A cheque in the post for you to cash with your bank. Three councils said they are sending households a cheque worth £150 to those who don't pay by direct debit. You'll be able to cash this at your usual bank or building society, or via its smartphone app.
If you live in Scotland, all 32 councils with responsibility for the rebates have already made a full or partial payment. Here, all councils will offer the full £150 discount off one monthly council tax bill, or they'll debit it across the year's bills (which are typically broken down into 10 months). However, Aberdeenshire Council allows households to exchange their council tax discount for a cash refund if they wish to.
For more information on council tax and how you might be able to change your council tax band and save £1,000s, see our Council tax bands guide, which also includes details of council tax discounts you may not be claiming. You should also check if you've overpaid council tax as you may be due a refund.
Here's how your council will pay you the rebate
If your council needs you to fill out an online form, where possible we've provided the links to these applications directly in the list below.
Adur and Worthing Borough Council | Complete online form |
|---|---|
Allerdale Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Amber Valley Borough Council | Complete online form |
Arun District Council | Complete online form |
Ashfield District Council | Complete online form |
Ashford Borough Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Babergh District Council | Complete online form |
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council | Complete online form |
Basildon Borough Council | Complete online form |
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council | Complete online form |
Bassetlaw District Council | Complete online form |
Bath and North East Somerset Council | Complete online form |
Bedford Borough Council | Complete online form |
Birmingham City Council | Complete online form |
Blaby District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council | Complete online form |
Blackpool Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council | Complete online form |
Bolsover District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Borough of Broxbourne | Complete online form |
Boston Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Bournemouth (BCP) Council | Complete online form |
Bracknell Forest Council | Complete online form |
Bradford Metropolitan District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Braintree District Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Breckland District Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Brentwood Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Bridgend County Borough Council | Complete online form |
Brighton and Hove City Council | Complete online form |
Bristol City Council | Complete online form |
Broadland District Council | Complete online form |
Bromley London Borough Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Bromsgrove District Council | Complete online form |
Broxtowe Borough Council | Complete online form |
Buckinghamshire Council | Complete online form |
Burnley Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Caerphilly County Borough Council | Complete online form |
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Cambridge City Council | Complete online form |
Cannock Chase District Council | Complete online form |
Canterbury City Council | Complete online form |
Carlisle City Council | Complete online form |
Carmarthenshire County Council | Complete online form |
Castle Point Borough Council | Complete online form |
Central Bedfordshire Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Ceredigion County Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Charnwood Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Chelmsford City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Cheltenham Borough Council | Complete online form |
Cherwell District Council | Complete online form |
Cheshire East Council | Complete online form |
Cheshire West and Chester Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Chesterfield Borough Council | Complete online form |
Chichester District Council | Complete online form |
Chorley Council | Complete online form |
Christchurch (BCP) Council | Complete online form |
City and County of Swansea Council | Complete online form |
City of Cardiff Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
City of Lincoln Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
City of London Council | Complete online form |
City of York Council | Complete online form |
Colchester Borough Council | Complete online form |
Conwy County Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Copeland Borough Council | Complete online form |
Cornwall Council | Complete online form |
Cotswold District Council | Complete online form |
Coventry City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Craven District Council | Complete online form |
Crawley Borough Council | Complete online form |
Dacorum Council | Complete online form |
Darlington Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Dartford Borough Council | Complete online form |
Denbighshire County Council | Complete online form |
Derby City Council | Complete online form |
Derbyshire Dales District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Dorset Council | Complete online form |
Dover District Council | Complete online form |
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Durham County Council | Complete online form |
East Cambridgeshire District Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
East Devon District Council | Complete online form |
East Hampshire District Council | Complete online form |
East Hertfordshire District Council | Complete online form |
East Lindsey District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
East Riding of Yorkshire Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
East Staffordshire Borough Council | Complete online form |
East Suffolk Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Eastbourne Borough Council | Complete online form |
Eastleigh Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a cheque of £150 |
Eden District Council | Complete online form |
Elmbridge Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Epping Forest District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council | Complete online form |
Erewash Borough Council | Complete online form |
Exeter City Council | Complete online form |
Fareham Borough Council | Complete online form |
Fenland District Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Flintshire County Council | Complete online form |
Folkestone and Hythe District Council | Complete online form |
Forest of Dean District Council | Complete online form |
Fylde Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Gedling Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Gloucester City Council | Complete online form |
Gosport Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Gravesham Borough Council | Complete online form |
Great Yarmouth Borough Council | Complete online form |
Guildford Borough Council | Complete online form |
Gwynedd County Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Halton Borough Council | Complete online form |
Hambleton District Council | Complete online form |
Harborough District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Harlow Council | Complete online form |
Harrogate Borough Council | Complete online form |
Hart District Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Hartlepool Borough Council | Complete online form |
Hastings Borough Council | Complete online form |
Havant Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Herefordshire Council | Complete online form |
Hertsmere Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
High Peak Borough Council | Complete online form |
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Horsham District Council | Complete online form |
Huntingdonshire District Council | Complete online form |
Hyndburn Borough Council | Complete online form |
Ipswich Borough Council | Complete online form |
Isle of Anglesey County Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Isle of Wight Council | Complete online form |
Isles of Scilly Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council | Complete online form |
Kingston-upon-Hull City Council | Complete online form |
Kirklees Council | Complete online form |
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Lancaster City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Leeds City Council | Applications closed. Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch or have £150 credited to their council tax account |
Leicester City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Lewes District Council | Complete online form |
Lichfield District Council | Complete online form |
Liverpool City Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham | Complete online form |
London Borough of Barnet | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
London Borough of Bexley | Eligible households will receive a cheque of £150 |
London Borough of Brent | Complete online form |
London Borough of Camden | Complete online form |
London Borough of Croydon | Complete online form |
London Borough of Ealing | Complete online form |
London Borough of Enfield | Complete online form |
London Borough of Hackney | Complete online form |
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham | Complete online form |
London Borough of Haringey | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
London Borough of Harrow | Complete online form |
London Borough of Havering | Complete online form |
London Borough of Hillingdon | Complete online form |
London Borough of Hounslow | Complete online form |
London Borough of Islington | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
London Borough of Lambeth | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
London Borough of Lewisham | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
London Borough of Merton | Complete online form |
London Borough of Newham | Complete online form |
London Borough of Redbridge | Complete online form |
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames | Complete online form |
London Borough of Southwark | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
London Borough of Sutton | Complete online form |
London Borough of Tower Hamlets | Complete online form |
London Borough of Waltham Forest | Complete online form |
London Borough of Wandsworth | Complete online form |
Luton Borough Council | Complete online form |
Maidstone Borough Council | Complete online form |
Maldon District Council | Complete online form |
Malvern Hills District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Manchester City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Mansfield District Council | Complete online form |
Medway Council | Complete online form |
Melton Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Mendip District Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council | Complete online form |
Mid Devon District Council | Complete online form |
Mid Suffolk District Council | Complete online form |
Mid Sussex District Council | Complete online form |
Middlesbrough Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Milton Keynes Council | Complete online form |
Mole Valley District Council | Applications closed |
Monmouthshire County Council | Applications closed. Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council | Complete online form |
New Forest District Council | Complete online form |
Newark and Sherwood District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Newcastle-under-Lyme District Council | Complete online form |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council | Complete online form |
Newport City Council | Complete online form |
North Devon Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
North East Derbyshire District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
North East Lincolnshire Council | Complete online form |
North Hertfordshire District Council | Complete online form |
North Kesteven District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
North Lincolnshire Council | Complete online form |
North Norfolk District Council | Complete online form |
North Northamptonshire Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
North Somerset Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
North Warwickshire Borough Council | Complete online form |
North West Leicestershire District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Northumberland County Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Norwich City Council | Complete online form |
Nottingham City Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council | Complete online form |
Oadby and Wigston District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Oxford City Council | Complete online form |
Pembrokeshire County Council | Complete online form |
Pendle Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Peterborough City Council | Complete online form |
Plymouth City Council | Complete online form |
Poole (BCP) Council | Complete online form |
Portsmouth City Council | Complete online form |
Powys County Council | Complete online form |
Preston City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Reading Borough Council | Complete online form |
Redcar and Cleveland Council | Applications paused. Full help on the council's energy rebate page |
Redditch Borough Council | Complete online form |
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council | Complete online form |
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council | Complete online form |
Ribble Valley Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Richmondshire District Council | Complete online form |
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Rochford District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Rossendale Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Rother District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a cheque of £150 |
Royal Borough of Greenwich | Complete online form |
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | Complete online form |
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames | Complete online form |
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead | Complete online form |
Rugby Borough Council | Complete online form |
Runnymede Borough Council | Complete online form |
Rushcliffe Borough Council | Complete online form |
Rushmoor Borough Council | Complete online form |
Rutland County Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Ryedale District Council | Complete online form |
Salford City Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Scarborough Borough Council | Complete online form |
Sedgemoor District Council | Complete online form |
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Selby District Council | Complete online form |
Sevenoaks District Council | Complete online form |
Sheffield City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Shropshire Council | Complete online form |
Slough Borough Council | Complete online form |
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Somerset West and Taunton Council | Complete online form |
South Cambridgeshire District Council | Complete online form |
South Derbyshire District Council | Complete online form |
South Gloucestershire Council | Complete online form |
South Hams District Council | Applications closed. Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
South Holland District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
South Kesteven District Council | Applications closed. Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
South Lakeland District Council | Complete online form |
South Norfolk District Council | Complete online form |
South Oxfordshire District Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
South Ribble Borough Council | Complete online form |
South Somerset District Council | Complete online form |
South Staffordshire Council | Complete online form |
South Tyneside Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Southampton City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Spelthorne Borough Council | Complete online form |
St Albans City and District Council | Complete online form |
St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Stafford Borough Council | Complete online form |
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council | Complete online form |
Stevenage Borough Council | Complete online form |
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | Complete online form |
Stoke-on-Trent City Council | Complete online form |
Stratford-on-Avon District Council | Complete online form |
Stroud District Council | Complete online form |
Sunderland City Council | Complete online form |
Surrey Heath Borough Council | Complete online form |
Swale Borough Council | Complete online form |
Swindon Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Tamworth Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Tandridge District Council | Complete online form |
Teignbridge District Council | Complete online form |
Telford & Wrekin Council | Complete online form |
Tendring District Council | Complete online form |
Test Valley Borough Council | Complete online form |
Tewkesbury Borough Council | Complete online form |
Thanet District Council | Complete online form |
Three Rivers District Council | Complete online form |
Thurrock Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council | Applications closed and final payments being made. If you think you're eligible but haven't got the rebate, contact the council |
Torbay Council | Complete online form |
Torfaen County Borough Council | Applications closed. Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Torridge District Council | Complete online form |
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council | Complete online form |
Uttlesford District Council | Complete online form |
Vale of Glamorgan Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Vale of White Horse District Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council | Applications closed. £150 to be credited to council tax account if eligible |
Walsall Council | Complete online form |
Warrington Borough Council | Complete online form |
Warwick District Council | Complete online form |
Watford Borough Council | Complete online form |
Waverley Borough Council | Complete online form |
Wealden District Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Welwyn Hatfield Council | Complete online form |
West Berkshire Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
West Devon Borough Council | Applications closed. Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
West Lancashire Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
West Lindsey District Council | Complete online form |
West Northamptonshire Council | Complete online form |
West Oxfordshire District Council | Complete online form |
West Suffolk Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Westminster City Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council | Complete online form |
Wiltshire Council | Complete online form |
Winchester City Council | Complete online form |
Wirral Council | Complete online form |
Woking Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Wokingham Borough Council | Complete online form |
Wolverhampton City Council | Complete online form |
Worcester City Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Wrexham County Borough Council | Complete online form (via link in letter from council) |
Wychavon District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
Wyre Council | £150 credited to council tax account |
Wyre Forest District Council | Eligible households will receive a Post Office voucher to redeem in branch |
If you have accessibility issues or struggle to access the internet, call your council
If you have problemsfilling out the online forms or redeeming a voucher/cheque at a post office or bank branch due to accessibility issues, contact your council. Each council has alternative ways to help those who may not be able to retrieve the £150 in the conventional way.
You can avoid the rebate paying off any overdraft you may have
Anyone sitting in their overdraft could miss the rebate as it could end up paying off the debt in their accounts – preventing households from ring-fencing the money for essential bills and utility costs.
So if you're worried this could affect you, use the 'first right of appropriation' to prevent your bank from using the £150 cash to pay off your overdraft.
This rule allows you to instruct your bank to ring-fence the cash to help pay off a specific bill or a number of different bills. To set this up you'll need to:
Tell your bank that a £150 payment from your council will be landing in your account on a certain date.
Then request how you want the funds to be distributed, for example, to pay off one of your monthly energy bills or a mobile contract.
You can use the charity National Debtline's template letter, which can help you work out what to write to your bank or building society.
Live in bands E to H in England or Scotland (or E to I in Wales)? Check if you're eligible for discretionary funding
If you don't qualify for the main £150 rebate because you don't live in a property in bands A to D, don't worry. Extra cash may be available to you and councils have until November to pay this out – see our council-by-council list to see what help you could get.
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10 September 2024
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