If you live in a property in Council Tax bands A to D, you are likely to receive a £150 Council Tax rebate to help with the cost of living. There will also be support available for some low-income households in Council Tax bands E to H.
Beware of scams
Don't give your bank details to anyone calling you claiming to be from our Council Tax office and asking for your bank details. We will not call you to ask for these details.
£150 rebate for Council Tax bands A-D
How to get a rebate
If you're eligible for a rebate, please check your bank account to see if you have received it.
If you're eligible but haven't received a rebate, please fill in our online claim form by 30 September 2022.
Who is eligible
We will provide a £150 one-off payment to a liable Council Tax payer (or a person who would otherwise be liable where the property is exempt) for every household that occupies a property that meets all the following criteria on 1 April 2022:
- It is valued in Council Tax bands A to D. This includes property that is valued in band E but has an alternative valuation band of band D as a result of the disabled band reduction scheme. You can find your council tax band on GOV.UK.
- It is someone’s sole or main residence.
- Council Tax is charged on the property or it is in exemption classes N, S, U or W.
- The person who is liable to pay the Council Tax (or would be were the property not exempt) is not a local authority, a corporate body or other body such as a housing association, the government or governmental body.
Discretionary scheme
There will be a discretionary rebate scheme for those who need help with their energy bills but are not eligible – such as vulnerable people and individuals on low incomes that do not pay Council Tax, or that pay Council Tax for properties in Bands E-H.
- Council Tax Energy Rebate Discretionary Scheme Report
- Merton Discretionary Council Tax Energy Payment Scheme
Who is eligible
- Households in receipt of Council Tax Support and in bands E to H – £150 (approximately 3,500)
- Households with new Council Tax Support claims for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022 who have not previously received the rebate, bands A to H – £150 (estimate to be 350)
- Households where pensioners are liable in bands E to H – based on number of applicants (it is not known how many there are in the borough).
Approximate timeframes for discretionary scheme
| Task | Time frame |
|---|---|
|
Director of Corporate Services decision |
11 April 2022 |
|
Call in period ends |
14 April 2022 |
|
Software due |
8 April 2022 |
|
Testing of software and web form |
8 to 29 April 2022 |
|
Communications campaign starts |
20 June 2022 |
|
Targeted letters to residents |
20 June 2022 |
|
Applications go live |
20 June 2022 |
|
Review of applications start |
20 June to 19 August 2022 |
|
Commence payments |
20 June 2022 |
Information from central government
For more information about the schemes, please see the GOV.UK website:
- Council tax rebate: factsheet
- Information leaflet for households in Council Tax bands A-D
- Factsheets on support for energy bills and the cost of living
- Millions to receive £350 boost to help with rising energy costs - 3 February 2022
- Guidance for local authorities: council tax rebate 2022-23