About 19,000 people could struggle to receive council tax rebate in South Kesteven and Rutland

Nearly 17,000 people in South Kesteven and more than 2,000 in Rutland could face delays in getting a council tax rebate due to be paid from early April.

The government announced the £150 rebate for those in bands A to D, as a means to help households with rising energy bills.

But a quarter of tax payers in Lincolnshire and 18 per cent in Rutland are not signed up to direct debit – which means they won’t automatically be paid the money.

To avoid a delay in receiving the money back, people are being encouraged to sign up to pay by direct debit through an online form for South Kesteven or Rutland.