1 December - Council tax benefit is changing
Please get involved, have your say and help us design a new Council Tax Support Scheme. To help a series of drop in sessions are underway to give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have or tell the Council your views on the proposals
The Government is abolishing the current Council Tax Benefit scheme (the current scheme) from 1 April 2013.
From this date, all Council's in England and Wales must replace this with a new Local Council Tax Support Scheme (the new scheme).
In addition to the introduction of the "new scheme", the level of funding provided by central government is being cut by at least 10%. The cut in funding means that the Council has to make some very difficult decisions about who will get financial support to help pay their Council Tax bill and how much.
The Council has considered how it can do this and has developed a series of principles around which the "new scheme" could operate. Before the Council makes any final decisions it is asking everyone who is interested in, or likely to be affected by the "new scheme" to let us know what they think about the ideas. The Council will then consider these views prior to agreeing the "new scheme". As pensioners cannot be affected by any of the proposed changes, this could mean that working age claimants have a reduction in their Council Tax Support of more than 10%.
Please read the Council Tax Consultation Brochure for more information about the changes and principles on which the Council is consulting. You can have your say by completing the online survey via the link below. Alternatively you can print the brochure, complete the survey section and send it back to us.
