THOUSANDS of households in the city are still waiting to be paid the £150 council tax rebate months after the scheme to help with the soaring cost of living was launched.

More than 12,000 people who do not pay council tax through direct debit are still waiting for their payments.

It means that almost a third of people eligible for the payments in Worcester are still waiting for the cash, which was announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak in February

Worcester City Council has until September to make the payments but was directed by the government to hand over the money “as soon as possible from April”.

Some of the payments were made to those using direct debit over a month ago, which the council said was easier to process as they already had the bank details.

The city council said it has started sending vouchers to the remaining households and will continue to do so in the coming weeks.

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The council said it will be sending out the vouchers, which can be redeemed at the Post Office, in batches of 3,000 with the first sent at the weekend.

According to the latest figures, of the 39,157 eligible households in Worcester, 26,750 who already pay by direct debit have received their payments meaning more than 12,000 are still waiting.

The council tax rebate has been open from April 1 to all households living in the A to D tax bands and provides a one-off £150 payment.

The payments made so far have totalled £4,012,350.

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Shane Flynn, director of resources at Worcester City Council, said vouchers are being processed and should be sent out “soon.”

“The vouchers are being issued in batches to allow the Post Office time to process them all as efficiently as possible,” he said.

“I would ask that residents bear with us if they haven’t yet received their voucher – it will be on its way soon.”

The council has said those people that have not yet received the council tax rebate payment should wait for the council to get in touch and not contact them.

The council tax rebate does not have to be repaid.