On 3 February 2022, the Government 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 £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. This will allow payments of up to £150 to be made to eligible properties. Each Local Authority has been tasked to design their own discretionary scheme. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has received an allocation of £674,100.
As part of the Local Authorities discretionary policy, households in bands E-H in that were in receipt of either council tax support, disabled band relief or a severe mental impairment exemption on 1 April 2022 will receive a one-off payment of £150 per household. These eligible households will be identified automatically, and payments made either directly to bank accounts where we hold Direct Debit details, or onto the council tax account where Direct Debit details are not available. Eligible households do not need to contact the Council to receive this payment, and will receive an amended bill once this payment has been made to the council tax account. A refund of this award can then be requested if required.
In addition, residents under 18 who were liable to pay their energy bills, but were not liable for council tax at the property they live in as at 1 April 2022 will receive a one-off payment of £150 per household. We will contact eligible households to arrange payment.
Once all the above households have been identified and paid, households in bands A-D that were in receipt of council tax support on 1 April 2022 will receive a top up payment of £31.85. These eligible households will be identified automatically, and payments made either directly to bank account where we hold Direct Debit details, or onto the council tax account where Direct Debit details are not available. Eligible households do not need to contact the Council to receive this payment, and will receive an amended bill once this payment has been made to the council tax account. A refund of this award can then be requested if required.
The Local Authority has until 30 November 2022 to make payments through this scheme.