The Government, on 3 February 2022, announced a package of support known as the Energy Bills Rebate to help households with rising energy bills, worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23. This includes:
- A £150 non-repayable rebate for households in England in council tax bands A – D, known as the Council Tax Rebate.
- £144 million of discretionary funding for billing authorities to support households who are in need but are not eligible for the Council Tax Rebate, known as the Discretionary Fund.
Details of the eligibility criteria and application process for the Councils’ Discretionary Fund are now available on the Council’s website: https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/counciltax/15/
To qualify for the Discretionary Fund you must meet the following Criteria on the date of 01 April 2022:
- You must be liable to pay Council Tax
- Your property must be in Council Tax band E-H.
- The property must be classed as your sole or main residence, i.e. your home
- The person liable for Council Tax, or their partner or someone in their household, is entitled to one of the benefits listed below:
- Child Tax Credit
- Council Tax Support
- Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
- Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
- Pension Credit (Savings Credit)
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
OR
The property is valued in Council Tax Bands E-H, in exemption classes listed below
- Class N – Occupied only by students, school or college leavers
- Class S — Occupied only be persons under 18
- Class U – Occupied only by severely mentally impaired persons
- Class W – Occupied annexe to an occupied dwelling
OR
The property is valued in Council Tax bands A-H, and
- the premises is classed as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), sheltered accommodation, or other property (excluding student halls of residence) where the household or tenant is not liable for Council Tax and,
- energy bill costs are included in the rent charged/terms of the tenancy, and,
- there has been a rent increase related to the rise in energy bills or the property has one or more household(s) within it that pay energy bills separately but not by the person who is shown as the liable persons for council tax
The scheme will operate in accordance with Government guidelines and funding availability.
Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council said:
“To date the Council have provided more than £5,000,000 in main Council Tax Energy Rebate, supporting more than 34,000 households across the borough.
“To support local residents with the rising cost of living, who were not eligible for the main Council Tax Energy Rebate scheme, I am pleased to announce that the Council are administering a Discretionary Fund scheme, which provides eligible households in Council Tax Bands E to H with a £150.00 rebate.
“The support under the Discretionary Fund scheme is predominately aimed at households in Council Tax bands E to H, where a the Council Tax payer, or, a member of the household is in receipt of certain benefits, for example Council Tax Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Universal Credit.
“Residents can choose to have the Council Tax Energy Rebate either paid directly to their Council Tax account, or, to receive a payment by BACS. It is important that we support our residents throughout these difficult times ensuring funds are allocated to all eligible households.
“Applications for Council Tax Energy Rebate open from Thursday 1st September 2022 and close on Monday 31st October. All the information needed to apply is on our website with the online form available 24 hours a day.
“As a proactive measure the Council will be contacting all households that could potentially qualify for support from the Discretionary Fund. The Council would urge our residents to apply.”