Ratepayers urged to avail of Rate Rebate
Land & Property Services (LPS), part of the Department of Finance, is urging tenants and homeowners to check their eligibility for the new Rate Rebate Scheme.
The scheme entitles ratepayers in receipt of Universal Credit to a rebate on their rates and is being rolled out in conjunction with Universal Credit across Northern Ireland.
To apply for Rate Rebate the tenant or homeowner must be of working age, in receipt of Universal Credit and live in the property. Tenants or homeowners can only make a claim for Rate Rebate once awarded Universal Credit and any claim should be made as soon as possible following their first payment of Universal Credit. Claims should be made within three months to ensure no partial loss of any subsequent award.
Visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/homeowners-and-tenants-applying-for-rate-rebate for eligibility information on the new Rate Rebate for homeowners, tenants in social housing and private rented housing.
Rate Rebate is a very straightforward online application through nidirect. Claimants register for an online account using their own email address and following registration make their online application.
Colum Boyle, Chief Executive of Land & Property Services, said: ‘’As part of our ongoing drive for digital services, the Rate Rebate application has been designed to be as user friendly as possible with the online application typically taking 3-4 minutes. I would urge anyone who has been awarded Universal Credit to check their eligibility and apply now for this rebate.’’
If Universal Credit has not been yet rolled out in a particular area or a person is not eligible for Universal Credit, such as pensioners, rates support will continue through Housing Benefit.
Claimants can obtain further details and apply directly online at: www.nidirect.gov.uk/rate-rebate-scheme or call Land & Property Services on 0300 200 7802.
Notes to editors:
- The Department of Finance Rate Rebate Scheme replaces the rates element of Housing Benefit for working age tenants and homeowners and is administered by Land & Property Services.
- Those not eligible for the scheme include: those not of working age, that is pensioners, who will remain on Housing Benefit and/or Low Income Rate Relief. People living in temporary or specified accommodation are excluded and will remain on Housing Benefit and/or Low Income Rate Relief, or those not eligible to claim Universal Credit. (Some exceptions apply.)
- The Department may take photographs and videos at announcements and events to publicise its work. Photographs, interviews, videos or other recordings may be issued to media organisations for publicity purposes or used in promotional material, including in publications, newspapers, magazines, other print media, on television, radio and electronic media (including social media and the internet). Photographs and videos will also be stored on the Department’s internal records management system. The Department will keep the photographs and recordings for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which they have been obtained. The Department’s Privacy Policy is available on our website.
- Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Finance Press Office on Tel: 028 9081 6724 or email dof.pressoffice@finance-ni.gov.uk. Follow us on Twitter @dptfinance
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