North West Leicestershire District Council has provided an update on how the proposed energy rebate payment will work for residents in the Coalville area.

The council has made a social media post today (Thursday) in which it explains the process.

The message says: "We're working to process the energy rebate to all eligible households as quickly as we can.

"To avoid fraud, we're carrying out pre-payment checks by text and email, and need to test our new software before we can make any payments.

"Here's how it will work:

• If you're eligible, a payment of £150 will automatically be made directly into the account your DD is taken from, in May 2022.

• If you don't pay by DD, you'll receive a letter in May 2022 with instructions to claim your payment at the Post Office.

"Please note:

• This scheme is not a reduction in council tax

• The payment will not show on your council tax bill

• We will NEVER ask for your bank account or personal details over the phone.

"If anyone calls you asking for them, this is a scam and you should hang up straight away and report it to the police.

"A discretionary scheme for those who aren't currently eligible but need help paying their bills will be announced in due course.

"Our Customer Services team are unable to provide any information - and any updates will be shared on our website and social media channels.

"For more information click HERE."

But Hannah Richardson, Local Democracy Reporter for Leicestershire says that only two local authorities in Leicestershire starting to distribute the money.

The rebate was announced in chancellor Rishi Sunak's spring statement on Wednesday, March 23.

But councils, which were being asked to administer the scheme had no idea it was coming until the announcement and have been playing catch up ever since.

The scheme has been hit with delays because online systems needed to be set up by the authorities, which also needed to work out who was eligible on short notice.

Leicester City Council and the and the district and borough councils in Leicestershire, which are administering the scheme have until the end of September to distribute the funds.

Households in council tax bands A to D are eligible for the rebate and will receive the funds automatically.

Second homes and unoccupied properties are however not eligible. If you pay your council tax via direct debit, you will receive the one-off payment directly to your account without having to do a thing.

Anyone who does not pay by direct debit can find out more about how they will receive the money in the information collected from each council, set out below.

However, people are being encouraged to set up a direct debit with their council as it is the quickest way for them to get their money – and the most cost effective way for councils to collect tax.