Council tax energy rebates will start landing in bank accounts across Liverpool from next month.
Liverpool Council has formally rubber stamped proposals for the £32m support scheme to get underway across the city from May as the cost of living crisis deepens. In February, the UK government announced a package of support to help people with increasing energy costs.
Residents across Liverpool will receive £150 as part of two schemes - a core programme consisting of a rebate for properties in council tax bands A-D and discretionary programme that will help households outside of those bands and those who are eligible but may need further support. A total of £1.6m has been made available to Liverpool Council by the government for the discretionary scheme on top of the £32m main pot.
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Cllr Harry Doyle, cabinet member for culture and visitor economy, said while the relief was important, the UK Government was not going far enough in his view. He said: “This rebate is of course welcome but this simply isn’t enough from the Government.
“The Government has failed to act to protect residents from the unprecedented energy hikes. Once again, it’ll be local government picking up the pieces to support the most vulnerable.
“We must be financially prudent and prepared to support our residents if government fails to do so.” Around 103,000 households are paying council tax by direct debit across Liverpool and it is anticipated that the first payments of £150 will start to be sent out by the end of this month, into early May.
The cabinet report said that due to the “large volumes to be processed it is likely to take a number of weeks to complete this part of the scheme.” Residents among the 122,000 households who pay council tax other than by direct debit, including 775 council employees who pay via their salary, can expect to receive their rebate in late May to early June.
Households must meet a certain number of criteria to receive the payment, which include the property being someone’s sole or main residence and the council tax payer not part of a governmental, local authority or housing association body. Properties will not be eligible for the rebate if there is no permanent resident, if it is a second home, or unoccupied.
Residents in council tax bands E to H in receipt of council tax support as well as households in bands F to H qualifying for the disabled reduction are eligible for the discretionary scheme. This is the same for people in council tax bands E to H qualifying for severe mental impairment exemption and carers discount.
Applications from households in all council tax bands which are in receipt of means tested benefit and are also in arrears with their energy supplier will be supported. Any excess funds not spent by Liverpool Council will be returned to the UK Government.
