If you pay your council tax by direct debit, the money will be paid directly into the bank account that you use to pay it, from the start of January.

Students living in halls will not get the payment because student halls are not in council tax bands A to D.

However, if you're a student living in a property that is in council tax bands A to D, as in a private home or flat let out by a landlord, then you will get the payment.

Students do not pay council tax so the local authority will be responsible for finding a way of giving them the payments.

This is also the case for those who do not pay council tax because of another kind of exemption, or if you do pay council tax but you do it by cash or some other way.

The government said it would give councils guidance on how local authorities should do this in due course.