The government has announced that households in council tax bands A to D will receive a £150 council tax rebate to help with the cost of living crisis.

It means that around 4 in 5 households in England will receive the grant, which does not have to repaid.

The scheme includes around 95% of all rented properties, but the government has said that second homes or empty properties will not be eligible.

Discretionary payments of £150 can also be made to households in council bands E to H who meet certain criteria.

In addition to the council tax rebate, the government has also announced an initiative to help spread the cost of the recent increase in energy prices.

They will reduce bills by £200 per year on this year's energy bills – but this will be repaid with increased bills over the next five years.

It will be taken off from October and is not a debt. No interest will be charged and no credit ratings are affected by the move.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Staffordshire Moorlands District Council when people can expect to see the rebate on their council tax.

Here's what they each had to say…

"Around 27,940 households in Moorlands will be eligible for the £150 payment in April due to already having direct debits set up to pay their council tax bills.

"We are aiming to make these payments towards the end of April.

 "There are approximately a further 7,640 households who do not pay by direct debit but that are eligible for the payment because they are in council tax bands A to D.

 "As we don't have banking information to make payments directly to these households we will be inviting them to apply for the rebate via the council's website in May.

"Anyone eligible who does not apply or does not receive the payment via direct debit, will have their council tax bill credited with £150 in June."