How to get up to £150 free cash NOW if you’re not eligible for council tax energy rebate scheme

MILLIONS of people who don’t qualify for a £150 payment to help with rising energy bills can still claim cash.

The council tax rebate is being sent out automatically to those eligible with the money hitting bank accounts of four in five households.

You must be in council tax bands A-D to qualify for the scheme, which was announced by the government in February to help with the cost of living crisis.

The one-off payments have started being made by councils from April – though some may not get the cash until as late as September.

But households which don’t qualify could still claim payments of up to £150 if they are struggling.

A separate £144million fund has also been launched which local councils can dish out to vulnerable and low income households.

An estimated 4.7million households are in council tax bands E-H and so don’t get the cash automatically, but are among those who could qualify for a discretionary payment.

Local authorities are giving out the cash in different ways and the amount you get and who qualifies can vary depending on where you live.

For example you can get between £50 and £150 if you’re not eligible for the main scheme but are struggling with energy bills.

This includes if you are in bands E-H for council tax and get a council tax discount through separate schemes, or if you live with several other people and can show you are responsible for energy bills.

You can if Camden is your local council.

Meanwhile residents in E-H bands and in receipt of council tax support will also get up to £150.

Some residents in all bands from A-H will get an extra £35 “top up” payment if they get the maximum reduction on their council tax bill.

Payments are being issued automatically in these circumstances

Those in bands A-D but who don’t pay council tax and don’t qualify for the main scheme but pay energy bills could also apply for the cash by emailing the council.

How the scheme works, including who is eligible and how to apply will depend on where you live.

Some councils have not yet said how the scheme will work and so you may have to wait where you are.

Others have said who qualifies for the cash but have not yet opened applications.

Residents for example could get a payment of £65 or £150, including those living in homes that are in bands E-H for council tax and are getting council tax support.

Anyone eligible with a direct debit set up will get payments sent “as soon as possible” but those without will have to apply when the system opens.

And West Devon council have said that eligibility for the discretionary scheme has not been decided yet, but “may include properties valued in bands E-H that are on income related benefits or those where the energy bill payers are not liable for council tax”.

You can check with your  to find out how to get the payment where you are.

Councils have until November 30, 2022 at the latest to give out this discretionary cash.

You can find out which band you’re in to see if you’re eligible for the automatic scheme, or need to apply to the fund by using  – you just need to enter your postcode.

There are also some exemptions to those in A-D bands, for example if you don’t live in the home.

You could challenge your council tax band if you think it’s wrong, so you don’t miss out on the cash.

But beware a revaluation of your band could put you in a lower band where you pay MORE council tax, so consider the risks.

If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could eligible for a reduction on your Council Tax bill through a separate scheme.