A new consultation has been launched to find ways to help support people in need with their Council Tax bills.
Council Tax Support is a discount that helps people on low incomes pay their Council Tax bill.
This is separate to the support offered to pension age households and other discounts, such as single person discount. There is no change proposed to the maximum Council Tax Support allowed – this remains at 65%.
As a local authority, the Council is legally required to consult on any proposed changes to the Council Tax Support scheme. We want to:
- make the scheme easier to understand and access;
- continue to support for households on the lowest incomes;
- make the scheme work better with the Universal Credit system;
- support families and applicants who receive a disability benefit;
- take away the need for constant changes in awards; and
- make the scheme easier to manage.
If approved, from 1 April 2025 the Council would replace the existing means tested system with one that’s easier to understand and is more supportive for the people most in need.
The changes to the scheme would affect working age households in the North East Lincolnshire Council area who receive Council Tax Support from 1 April 2025.
Councillor Stephen Harness, Cabinet member for Finance, Resources and Assets said: “The Council’s offer of financial support for low-income households paying council tax helps many in our communities. This consultation will help us to decide on the future of the support, and how it should be shaped going forward to make it easier for people to understand.”
To have your say in the consultation, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/have-your-say- external site .
The online consultation closes to the public on 30 September 2024.
Article from NELC.
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