In February, the government announced a package of support to help people with increasing energy costs. This included a one-off payment of £150 to households in Council Tax bands A to D and a discretionary fund for higher band properties.

On May 11, Wirral Council said those who pay by direct debit can expect to see the payment being made into their bank accounts from that week onwards. But that still left more than 40,000 households who do not pay their Council Tax in this way.

The council said it would be writing to these households with details of how to claim the rebate. The local authority has now issued an update on how many households have been given the money and how those who have not yet had the £150 can get it.

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: "To date, 84,244 households have received their payment – 63% of all those eligible for the rebate. This is the majority of the Council Tax payers who pay by direct debit in Wirral."

But this still leaves many waiting to get their money. On this, the spokesperson added: "It is estimated that we will have more than 40,000 payments still to make under the main Council Tax Bands A-D scheme. The application process will go live on the council's website this week, which requires residents to complete an online form and submit their bank details.

"Payments for these applicants will start [in the week commencing] June 6. We are intending to write to all customers who still haven't applied from June 13."

But those in higher Council Tax bands are not eligible for the £150 payment. On this group, the council spokesperson added: "We are also in the process of finalising details of a discretionary scheme to provide support to households in need but who fall outside of the original eligibility criteria.

"We will publicise this in June."