Thousands of households have LESS time to claim £150 council tax rebate – what to do NOW
THOUSANDS of households have LESS time to claim free cash to help with soaring bills.
Millions of people are getting the council tax rebate worth £150.
The free cash has already gone out to many households across the country.
Four in five households in council tax bands A-D are eligible - but some have to claim the help.
Some local councils are setting deadlines for these claims, like in Derby.
The local authority has moved the deadline to 10am tomorrow (July 11).
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Residents in the area who have not received the rebate had been given until July 31 to claim.
This is the case for an estimated 20,000 households in the area, .
Anyone who doesn't in time will still get the cash - but they will have to wait longer for it.
Those affected are people in the Derby area who don't pay their council tax bill by direct debit.
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Anyone who misses the deadline will get sent a voucher which can be exchanged for cash and PayPoint locations.
The council has not given a date for these to go out, but under the rules of the scheme they have until the end of September to give out the cash.
People are being urged to apply sooner rather than later so they get the cash more quickly.
And others still waiting for the £150 cash back should check with their own council if there is a deadline for claims.
In some areas, like Leeds, the deadline has already passed. And households in West Suffolk had until June 5 to apply.
Those who miss deadlines in their area shouldn't miss out on the cash altogether - but it will take longer to arrive.
When will my £150 council tax rebate be paid?
Payments started from April 1 and lucky locals in places like Sunderland, Bracknell and East Hampshire have had theirs
But some have to wait longer as councils work through processing the payments.
There are seven areas we found where payments are expected to land in bank accounts this month.
When you get your £150 rebate depends on where you live.
Each council will have different systems, dates can vary, and the scheme is new.
You can check your and social media pages for the latest updates on when you will get the cash.
If you have a direct debit set up to make council tax bill payments you're likely to get yours earlier than if you pay manually.
If you're eligible for the rebate but you don't pay a bill and need to apply you should keep an eye out for a letter.
This could also be the case if you pay your bill manually and the council don't have bank details on record for you.
Your council will be in touch telling you how to apply for the £150.
But beware of scams where criminals are asking for bank details via text, email or call claiming this is how you get the rebate.
Experts have warned about the red flags to look out for so you don't lose cash.
Who is eligible for the £150 council tax rebate?
Households in England in council tax bands A to D will receive a £150 repayment from April.
That amounts to around 80% of households in England, the government said.
Scotland and Wales are offering a similar scheme, but the way it's paid is different.
Ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the support in February as part of a package to support for households struggling with the rising cost of living.
If you're not eligible for the one-off payment you should check whether you qualify for any other help.
Council tax bands are based on a property's value - more expensive properties are charged a higher rate.
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 be eligible for a reduction on your Council Tax bill through a separate scheme.
A separate £144million fund has also been launched which local councils can dish out to vulnerable and low income households.
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Some councils like Camden have opened applications for the cash worth up to £150.
And the most hard-up families struggling with bills could be eligible for EXTRA payments on top of £150.