AROUND 26,000 residents are set be contacted by the council when it invites them to make a council tax rebate claim as the authority does not have their bank account details.
Council tax in St Helens will increase by 2.99 per cent following approval of the budget at the full council meeting last week.
Households across England are being urged to set up direct debits with their local council to receive a £150 council tax rebate that the Government says will "help millions of families manage costs of living".
People who pay council tax by direct debit will see the cash go directly into their bank accounts from April.
Those who do not pay by direct debit will be contacted by their council and invited to make a claim.
What the council is saying
St Helens Council has issued a statement on the matter.
A spokesperson said: “This is a difficult time for many families facing energy price rises and those who do not currently already pay by direct debit will not receive the rebate directly.
“This is one of the many benefits of paying your council tax by direct debit and we would always encourage households to pay this way.
“For those who do not, which is around 26,000 households – equivalent of 34 per cent of eligible households – we are currently working out the best way to make sure this rebate is distributed to them and we will be giving more information about this in due course.”
Around 20 million households in council tax bands A to D – including 95 per cent of rented properties – are set to benefit from the £3 billion council tax rebate, which does not have to be repaid.
It is part of an extensive package of Government measures to help families with rising energy costs.
An extra £144 million will also be given to councils to provide discretionary support to vulnerable households who may not qualify for the £150 council tax rebate. This includes people on low incomes in council tax bands E to H.
Secretary of state for Levelling Up Michael Gove (above) said: “As we emerge from the pandemic, we understand the pressures facing many families as global inflation levels increase.
“The support we have introduced will help millions of people, particularly those on the lowest incomes and the most vulnerable.
“We continue to stand behind the British people and I urge everyone who is eligible to claim this rebate to do so.”
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