Council Tax: £150 energy rebate

Updated 1 October 2022

The government announced in February 2022 an initiative to help households with rising energy costs; this being certain households qualifying for a rebate of £150.

Cherwell has made payment to all eligible properties and the application process has now closed.

About this payment

Payment has been made either using the direct debit details held on the Council Tax account, by paying to your nominated bank account or by transferring the payment to the Council Tax account.  Bills confirming the payment has been transferred to the Council Tax account have been issued.  The £150.00 credit will be included in the total payments detail in the section marked ‘Less Payments’ on the bill.

If there are instalments due for 2022/23, the payment will be offset against this first. If there is no liability to pay Council Tax for 2022/23 (due to either full Council Tax Support, a full exemption or the bill has already been paid in full for 2022/23) the £150.00 will be offset against any Council Tax arrears if you have any.

Unless your Council Tax is in credit, a refund will not be issued. If you require a refund please complete our online application for a Council Tax refund form.  Please allow 15 working days for receipt of your refund.

Please continue to pay your Council Tax in accordance with your latest demand to avoid recovery action.  

Who can get this £150 rebate?

  • you must be the liable person for council tax
  • the property must be in band A-D inclusive 
  • the property must be your main home as of 1 April 2022

If your property is in band E and you are eligible for a disabled band reduction, then you will also get the £150 payment.  Properties are not eligible if they are second homes, houses of multiple occupation (HMO) or unoccupied. Check your Council Tax band.

The application process has now closed. All eligible customers who did not apply have had their Council Tax account credited with £150.00.

Refusal of energy payment

If you are eligible for the payment but do not wish to receive the £150, please contact us at council.tax@cherwell-dc.gov.uk

You will need to quote your Council Tax account number and ‘refusal of energy payment’ in the subject line of the email.

Changes in circumstances

The effective date for the council tax rebate is 1 April 2022. If there's a change to the council tax band of your home after this date, this will not be taken into consideration.

The exception to this is newly-built homes awaiting a valuation band. We can make a payment if:

  • the effective date is 1 April 2022 or before, and
  • you meet the eligibility criteria

Once you have received payment, if you believe you do not meet the eligibility criteria above please notify council.tax@cherwell-dc.gov.uk quoting the bank account details the payment was credited to.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria above the grant may be liable for recovery.

Help and advice about heating your home

More information about the £150 Council Tax rebate, as well as other ways the government is helping with rising energy costs, is available: