£100 energy payment: your household checklist

Step 1: check the household, not just the property band

• The published core criteria cover households responsible for council tax on a band A to D main home in England. The payment is £100 per eligible household, not per person.
• Most council-tax-exempt households will also be included, according to government guidance, but full eligibility criteria are still to follow. Ask your council about exemptions or unusual living arrangements.
• Second homes, empty properties and households where the householder is not responsible for council tax are excluded under the current guidance. Do not assume renting or living with another billpayer means a separate payment.

Step 2: know which payment route applies

• Eligible council-tax Direct Debit payers do not need to apply under the official guidance: the rebate will be paid directly into their bank account.
• If you do not pay by Direct Debit, wait for your council to invite you to apply and follow its verified instructions. The guidance does not promise an automatic transfer to every household.
• Payments begin from January 2027. This is not a promise that your payment will arrive on 1 January, and local arrangements are still being set out.

Step 3: keep a simple payment checklist

• Have your latest council tax bill available so you can check the property address, band and named billpayer against council guidance.
• If the council requests evidence, use only its official application route and provide what it asks for. Keep any acknowledgement and check the payment against your bank statement when it arrives.
• Do not deduct £100 from your council tax instalment or change energy payments yourself. Continue the agreed payments unless the council or supplier tells you otherwise.

Step 4: plan for the payment without relying on it early

• Treat it as a one-off contribution, not a permanent cut in your energy tariff. Do not budget for £100 every month or assume it replaces other bill payments.
• If energy bills are already unaffordable, contact your supplier now about payment arrangements and available support rather than waiting until January.
• If you are outside the main scheme, check your council’s discretionary support. An additional £100 million has been announced for English councils, but local eligibility varies and an individual payment is not guaranteed.

Step 5: use official links and avoid claim scams

• The government says only your council should contact you about claiming this rebate. Independently find the council’s published contact details if a message is unexpected.
• Do not disclose banking information through an unsolicited message or pay an intermediary to secure the payment. CompareDirect does not take applications, collect bank details or arrange this rebate.
• The Budget says a temporary bank-tax surcharge increase will help fund the support. It is not a fee households need to pay to claim. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will decide their own support arrangements.
• Photo: AI-generated illustration for CompareDirect, not a photograph of payment recipients.

Sources and review

Written by CompareDirect. Worked examples are illustrative, not live deals or guaranteed savings. Check the relevant supplier, council or adviser for your circumstances.

• GOV.UK: Household Energy Payment eligibility and payment guidance
• Check your council tax band
• Find your local council and its official payment updates
• HM Treasury: Budget 2026 support and bank-tax funding

Content reviewed: 1 November 2026. Linked guidance checked; provider prices and personal eligibility are not verified by these examples.