Households across the region are waiting for a £150 council tax rebate.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the grant in February in a bid to counteract rising energy bills. All properties in council tax bands A to D are entitled to the £150 payment – but only those paying council tax by direct debit will receive it automatically.

But analysis by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reveals more than 444,000 households across the West Midlands currently pay council tax manually meaning they will have to apply to receive the rebate. These residents either pay their bills by visiting their council’s website every month, make their payments by phone or visit their town hall to pay in person.

Councils are now undertaking a “major exercise” of writing to all households which do not pay bills by direct debit, advising them how to claim the £150. Some councils have been told not to pay the £150 until households have made their council tax bill payment for April.

A flyer from the department for levelling up, housing and communities with information about the rebate is to be sent out with all annual council tax bills. Authorities are encouraging residents to set up a direct debit so they receive the rebate as quickly as possible – but alternative plans are being put in place.

If you’re not eligible for the council tax rebate you can apply for a grant from a separate fund.

Dudley Council told the LDRS that 141,000 households pay council tax.

Approximately 95,000 households pay council tax by direct debit. But 46,000 households, or an astonishing 48 per cent do not pay by direct debit.

Balvinder Heran, deputy chief executive at Dudley Council, said: “Approximately two thirds of all households currently pay their council tax by direct debit and 46,000 households choose to pay by other means. 

“We’re encouraging anyone who doesn’t already pay by direct debit to do so as it means their £150 rebate will be paid automatically in the weeks following their first direct debit payment. We will contact all other households who choose not to pay by direct debit to arrange their rebate payment.”

Sandwell

Sandwell had one of the highest council tax rises in the West Midlands, and the country, at 4.99%. 

Out of approximately 120,000 households, nearly 35,000, or 29%, do not pay their council tax by direct debit. 

An online form will be available on Sandwell council’s website later this month (April) for people who do not pay their council tax by Direct Debit to provide their details so payments can be made into their bank accounts.

A spokesperson for Sandwell council said: “Sandwell council is working to award the £150 council tax rebate to those residents who are eligible. For those signed up to Direct Debit, we are aiming to start to make these payments in early April. Those not on Direct Debit will need to complete an application form before we can make the payment and we expect the application form to be available by early May.

“We also have approximately 20,000 households currently in receipt of council tax reduction who have no council tax to pay but are still eligible for the rebate.”