Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason non-direct debit applications for the council tax energy rebate are required to be verified via a credit and bank check before a payment is issued.

Councils should undertake pre-payment checks prior to the payment of any rebate which is not awarded to the holder of a live direct debit instruction. The checks are intended to help reduce the risk of fraud or error through ensuring the person applying for the rebate is entitled to the payment and that the payment details provided belong to an entitled person and relate to the relevant address.