Who qualifies for the £100 energy payment

The payment is planned for households in council tax bands A to D, with councils expected to distribute it from January 2027. Coverage explains how eligibility and payment may work, while also examining concerns that council tax bands may not direct support to those most in need.

• Around 20 million households in council tax bands A to D are due to receive a one-off £100 payment, with councils expected to pay it into bank accounts from January 2027.· 2 sources
• Direct-debit council tax payers are expected to receive the money in the account used for their payments; councils will need to arrange payment for people without those details.· 2 sources
• Students in halls are excluded, while students living in eligible A-to-D properties may qualify; councils are to handle payments for people who do not pay council tax.· 2 sources
• Coverage reports criticism that the eligibility test uses council tax bands based on valuations from 1991 and may include some higher-income households while excluding some lower-income households.· 2 sources
• Forecasts cited in the articles put next year's typical energy bill increase above the £100 payment, though the reported estimates differ.· 2 sources