Time is running out to claim the Government's council tax rebate if you haven't received it yet. The money, worth £150, has already been paid to most eligible households who pay their bill by direct debit, but those who don't generally have until July 31 to apply for the cash.
The Council Tax Rebate Scheme was launched in February to help tack the rising cost of living - in particular increasingly expensive energy bills. Under the initiative, all households in bands A-D in will get a £150 non-repayable payment. Most families in our region who pay by direct debit should have received their £150 council tax rebate by May 31, and now attention has been turned to the families who pay their bill in other ways.
There have been reports of some local authorities being concerned that not enough taxpayers are claiming the cash, with Guildford Borough Council in Surrey claiming that one in three eligible households in its area had failed to submit a claim by the end of June. Most councils in the North East are well underway with making the payments, and one - South Tyneside - has paid out to all 67,000 eligible households, including those who do not pay by direct debit.
