£150 energy rebate vouchers must be cashed before Friday 30th September 2022

Buckinghamshire residents who still haven’t cashed their council tax energy rebate vouchers are being urged to do it now, before it is too late.

The government deadline for cashing the £150 vouchers is Friday 30th September 2022.

According to Buckinghamshire Council records, more than 8,000 people still haven not cashed the vouchers they were sent last month. The rebate was paid to all households in Council Tax bands A-D earlier in 2022 as part of the government’s support to help deal with the cost of living crisis.

Residents who pay their council tax by direct debit received the rebate automatically, direct into their bank account. Households that do not pay by direct debit or whose council tax accounts didn’t match their bank details, were sent letters with a Post Office voucher. The letters featured a unique bar code, allowing the person named on the council tax bill to claim the funding from any Post Office branch.

John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing and Resources at Buckinghamshire Council, said: ‘With winter just around the corner and the rising cost of living beginning to bite we really want to make sure everyone who was entitled to the energy rebate claims the £150 to put towards their energy bills. I’d also like to remind residents that this rebate is not a loan and does not have to be paid back.

Please help us spread the word. If you know of a neighbour, family member, friend or someone you work with who hasn’t cashed in their voucher, remind them that they will miss out after 30 September [2022] – this deadline is set by central government and cannot be extended.

We would also like to remind residents to look out for scam calls related to the £150 energy rebate. Unfortunately, we have been made aware of fraudsters reportedly calling people to ask for bank details, pretending to be from the council. Please take note, we will never call you to ask for your bank details. If someone does ask you for any personal details such as bank details, hang up immediately, do not give them any information.‘

Those unable to get to the Post Office themselves can nominate someone else to collect the money on their behalf. The nominee will need to take the original letter and relevant photo identification to the Post Office. The process is fully explained in the letter and on the Buckinghamshire Council website at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/council-tax.

Further information on the scheme can be found on the Buckinghamshire Council website at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/council-tax.

*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Council.