More than 10,000 Milton Keynes households left waiting for council tax rebate due in July
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Earlier this year, the Government announced every household in council tax bands A to D would receive a £150 rebate, as part of a wider package of support to help with the cost-of-living crisis.
These payments started landing in people's bank accounts in April – but new figures from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show that 10,086 – or 10.8% – of the 93,633 eligible households in Milton Keynes were still waiting as of the end of July.
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Hide AdMore households will likely have received the payment since then.
Payment has generally happened automatically for those who pay their council tax bills by direct debit.
But it could take longer to reach council taxpayers without direct debit arrangements.
The Government has also pledged £144m in 'discretionary funds' to help those not covered by the main rebate scheme, or to provide further support to those who are – such as those who have a council tax reductions due to a disability, but do not live in a band A to D property.
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Hide AdThese figures show 263 households in Milton Keynes had received funds from the discretionary fund as of the end of July.
Across England, 2.6 million households were still waiting to receive support as of the end of July, out of more than 19 million eligible.
The incoming Prime Minister – to be announced early next week – has been urged to provide more support to tackle the soaring costs of fuel, food and basic goods.
A recent report by the Resolution Foundation think-tank proposed an energy support package worth tens of billions of pounds, to help Britons weather the squeeze on living standards.
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Hide AdLevelling Up Secretary Greg Clark said: “We want to make sure that those most in need receive the support that they are entitled to help households with the cost of living.
"This is why I am urging everyone to check their eligibility to receive the rebate and contact their councils if they have not.”
Anyone yet to obtain the payment should check their council’s website and make a claim by the end of September, the DLUHC said.