The Council was tasked by the Government to distribute the £150 Energy Rebates.
The main scheme is now closed to applications as of 1 July 2022, however the discretionary fund is still available.
£150 Discretionary Energy Rebate Scheme
Local Authorities have been asked to establish a Discretionary Payment Scheme to assist those responsible for energy payments that do not qualify for the main £150 payment.
The Government has allocated Hull City Council (HCC) £769,200 to fund its discretionary scheme payments. The Council will close its discretionary scheme to new applications as soon as this funding has been exhausted.
HCC’s Discretionary Scheme meets with Government Guidance for the distribution of Energy Rebate Payments.
Discretionary Energy Rebate Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this payment you must fall into one of the following categories:
- Those in Council Tax Bands E to H who are in receipt of Council Tax Support.
- New occupiers of properties in Bands A to D with effect from the 2nd April 2022 who have not received an energy payment for a previous address in the United Kingdom
- Tenant(s) who live in a property and are not liable to pay Council Tax but who -
- individually or jointly are responsible for paying energy bills directly to energy providers, or
- pay their energy costs within their rent to their landlord
Students who are in Halls of Residence are unlikely to be eligible for discretionary support, unless they are directly exposed to rising energy costs.
The Council will close its discretionary scheme to new applications as soon as funding has been exhausted.
If more than one person is named as being responsible on the energy bill, one person will be required to act on behalf of the residents and be responsible for gaining the signatures so they can receive the £150 payment to pay towards the energy costs.
We aim to process discretionary applications within 2 calendar months.
Further guidance regarding the £150 Energy Bills rebate
Bank accounts will be subject to security checks to reduce fraud.
If your account is overdrawn you may wish to consider “first right of appropriation” which can prevent a payment received being used against by your bank an overdraft. Sample letters are available on the national debtline website.
If you do not pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit and you provide us with your bank account details, we will only use this information to make the Energy Rebate payment. The Government require us to keep information on the Energy Rebate payments made and this will be shared with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Where you have asked for the Energy Rebate payment to be paid into a third party’s account, we would undertake appropriate pre-payment checks in relation to the nominated individual, whilst ensuring the taxpayer isn’t under duress to nominate the third party. A record will be maintained of all such payments for future audit and assurance.
Disagreeing with a decision
If you disagree with a decision not to award an Energy Rebate payment, whilst there is no formal route of appeal, we understand that mistakes may happen or that you may have additional evidence available that could change a decision to refuse a payment.
If you disagree with a decision please email -
- for the Discretionary scheme disenergyrebate@hullcc.gov.uk
Please include the following information in your email -
- the date the decision that you disagree with was made
- the reason why you disagree
- provide any further supporting evidence
