Households in Coventry to receive £150 boost with energy bills

Payments to Coventry households to help with energy price increases will get underway in the coming weeks as part of a new energy rebate scheme. 

The Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announced the ‘Council Tax Energy Rebate’ scheme in February which local Councils are required to administer. 

The energy rebate is a £150 payment to all occupied households occupying properties in council tax bands A to D. 

It includes 140,000 properties in Coventry making up 94 per cent of the city’s domestic properties. 

The rebate is to support households with the rising cost of energy and does not need to be repaid. Information about the energy rebate were publicised in annual council tax bills issued in the past couple of weeks. The scheme are being finalised, but it is likely to operate on the following basis:

1. Those who have paid their council tax by direct debit prior to 3 February 2022 will receive a payment direct to their bank account, providing that the name on the account matches the liable party for council tax purposes;

1.  Those who do not pay by direct debit or people who have provided direct debit details since 3 February 2022 will have to complete an online application. Each eligible household will be sent a letter to explain that they should apply online or contact us for an assisted claim. The application process will be open for a period to be confirmed. 

1. However, if an eligible household has not claimed before this date then the Council will credit the council tax account with £150 which can be claimed as a refund or left to reduce the council tax balance.Approximately 87,000 households pay by direct debit in Coventry.

1.  This leaves 57,000 households who will need to make an application for the energy rebate. In the meantime, we are encouraging residents not to contact us as we will write to everyone who is entitled to the rebate to explain how they can receive the payment. Coventry City Council has set up a dedicated webpage which is being updated continuously.

To find out more, go to www.coventry.gov.uk/energyrebate