Council extends Energy Rebate to thousands more people

The Discretionary Scheme is a follow-on from the Government’s mandatory £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate Scheme, which was launched in March this year. It has been designed by the Council to meet the additional needs of local people in Wandsworth by providing those eligible with £150 to put towards their energy costs. The Council expects to make around 8,000 payments.

There are four different groups who are eligible for the Discretionary Scheme. Two of these groups are known to the Council:

• Properties in council tax bands E-H, where residents are liable for council tax and in receipt of benefits.

• Properties in council tax bands E-H, where residents are exempt from paying council tax for one of the following reasons - students; occupied only by severely mentally impaired; occupied only by persons under the age of 18; annex occupied by dependent relative

Residents in these two groups will be written to directly with instructions for how to apply and those who pay their council tax by direct debit will be paid their discretionary energy rebate payment automatically.

There are also a number of people who are unknown to the council who are eligible:

• Properties in council tax bands A-D, where the occupants do not pay the council tax (eg council tax is included in the rent) but they do have responsibility for paying the energy bills.

• Properties in council tax bands E-H, where the occupants do not pay the council tax, however they are in receipt of means-tested benefits and have responsibility for paying the energy bills.

The Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme will close to applications on 31 October 2022.

Councillor Angela Ireland, Wandsworth’s cabinet member for finance, said: “We know how worrying the rising cost of living is for so many people across the borough. This council is determined to do everything it can to help our residents, particularly over the winter months, so they can stay safe and warm in their homes.

“These rebate schemes will go some way to helping so we want to make sure everyone who is eligible comes forward and claims their £150 as soon as they can.”

Mandatory Scheme

85,970 households are eligible for the original Council Tax Rebate Scheme.

So far, over £9.5 million has been paid to households in council tax bands A-D. Nearly 100 per cent of people who pay council tax by direct debit have received their rebate. However, only about 50 per cent of people who need to securely provide their bank details to claim their rebate via bank transfer have come forward to date, with the council waiting to hear from over 18,000 eligible households. All households have received a letter with instructions for claiming. Anyone who thinks they should have already received their rebate, but haven’t, should get in touch with the council as soon as possible.

The Mandatory Energy Rebate Scheme will close to applications on 31 August 2022.