From April 2013, Council Tax Benefit will be known as Council Tax Support. As before, your local authority will be responsible for administering Council Tax Support. However, the Government has cut the amount of funding available to local authorities to fund the support scheme and has asked each authority not to ‘pass on the cuts’ to pensioners and some other vulnerable people. How much you have to pay will depend on where you live and what Council Tax Support scheme your local council operates.
The majority of working age people will have something to pay towards their council tax bill for the first time in many years.
Who will be affected?
Anyone of working age who is claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support and is not classed as vulnerable.
When is it happening?
1 April 2013. You will receive a council tax bill form your local authority during March.
What Can I do?
- You will need to set up a payment arrangement with your local authority. You can choose to spread the payments over 12 months.
If you have questions, or are worried about any of what you have read here, or anything you’ve seen in the news, contact your Benefit & Money Advisor.