Council Tax Rebate

In February, the government announced the introduction of a £150 Council Tax rebate to support households affected by the rising cost of living. Find out if your household is eligible here.

We have made payment of the £150 Council Tax rebate to approximately 40,000 households who pay their Council Tax via Direct Debit. The online application now enables households who do not pay their Council Tax via Direct Debit to apply for the Council Tax rebate.

In April 2022, we launched the Energy Bills Discretionary Scheme to help thousands of families that are already receiving Council Tax reduction, a type of benefit that reduces bills for those on low incomes, to receive £30 on top of the £150 Council Tax rebate announced by the government. The Scheme also supports households not covered by the government’s £150 announcement. 

Eligible households that have received payment of the £150 will automatically be paid the £30 top up. Find out if your household is eligible here.

Is my household eligible to receive the £150 rebate?

Your household (one rebate per household) may be eligible if it meets the following criteria: 

• it is valued in Council Tax bands A to D (including band E if receiving disabled band relief reduction)
• it is the liable council taxpayer’s sole or main residence and occupied on 1 April 2022
• it is a chargeable dwelling, meaning any property where all or part of it is used as a residence, for example a house or flat, that is subject to Council Tax. 
• it is exempt dwelling, meaning it is exempt from Council Tax because it is only occupied by one or more of the following:
  • students (Class N)
  • persons aged under 18 (Class S)
  • persons who are severely mentally impaired (Class U)
  • dependent relative (Class W)

You can learn more by visiting GOV.UK.

How can I receive the £150 rebate?

You can expect payment to be in your bank account within 14 days from the date you receive the confirmation email that your application has been approved for payment.

Get your rebate in 5 simple steps

You can find out more by reading our step-by-step guide below or watching a video tutorial.

How will my data be used on the online application form?

To validate your bank account details, we will need to share relevant information with TransUnion. This is to ensure that your support payment is paid to the correct bank account.

For more information visit: TransUnion 

We may use automated decision-making to determine if you are eligible to access funds.This means that a decision may be made by automated means.Your right under the DPA 2018 allows you to object to any automated-decision-making used in the process.If you do, there may be a delay in the processing of your application.

If you wish to request any changes to the way your data is used for the purposes of processing this application, including the withdrawal of consent, you can exercise your right under GDPR in writing the Council’s DPO.If you do withdraw your consent, we will not be able to continue payments to you.Your consent is necessary to establish your eligibility to automarise any payments made.

For more information on how we may handle your data, see our privacy statement. 

I need help completing the online form. Who can I contact?

If you have limited internet access and or need further assistance, please call 020 8356 3154. A customer service representative will be able to assist with the completion of the online form or complete the form on your behalf.

Is my household eligible for the Energy Bills Discretionary scheme?

From 1 April to 30 November 2022, the Energy Bill Discretionary Scheme helps thousands of residents on low income who are not eligible for the £150 rebate scheme or need a little extra help to meet the rising cost of living, including:  

• households in larger homes (Council Tax bands E-H) not eligible for the government’s scheme, but who receive Council Tax reduction, will also receive a £150 payment
• residents who move into the borough during the year ahead and are eligible for Council Tax reduction will receive a part-payment depending on when they move
• families who receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing costs, but don’t pay Council Tax directly, for instance because their landlord pays it for them will be able to apply for a £150 payment
• households that are already receiving Council Tax reduction, a type of benefit that reduces bills for those on low incomes, will qualify to receive £30 on top of the £150 Council Tax rebate announced by the government, saving them a total of £180 this year. Households who have received payment of the £150 will automatically be paid the £30 top up.

How can I learn about additional financial support

If you are in need of additional financial support, you may also be entitled to:

• Council Tax Reduction Scheme – get up to £80 a month from your Council Tax Bill 
• Discretionary Housing payments (DHP) – if your rent is not met in full by housing benefit or universal credit and you have a temporary situation which makes it difficult to pay your rent, you can apply for extra help
• Discretionary crisis support scheme – get one off payments for emergencies that are not covered by normal social security benefits

How can I protect myself from being scammed?

There are reports of scammers pretending to be from the Hackney Council Tax Team and paying residents the Rebate. 

To protect yourself, never share your bank details over the phone. The Hackney Council Tax Team will never ask you for your bank details, including your bank card details or pin number, to set up Direct Debit or pay your £150 rebate. 

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud or identity theft, report it directly to Action Fraud by going online at actionfraud.police.uk or calling 0300 123 2040.