Council tax benefit changes on agenda at Wyre Forest council cabinet (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Council tax benefit changes on agenda at Wyre Forest council cabinet

9:03am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News By Becky Carr

WYRE Forest District Council’s cabinet is due to discuss proposed changes to council tax benefits at a meeting tonight.

A 12-week consultation has been held on the council tax discount scheme, which will replace council tax benefit, to look at residents’ views on exemptions and eligibility.

The consultation process found that 84 per cent of people who took part strongly agreed or agreed that every household with working age claimants should pay something towards their council tax bill.

Government funding for council tax support is being reduced by 10 per cent, which means the district council needs to find £110,000.

It is therefore recommended that the council agrees to limit council tax discount to 90 per cent for working age claimants.

A report to the cabinet states: “The impact on individuals would be minimal. For an average band D property this would equate to approximately £3 per week, which a claimant must find to cover their council tax bill.

“In Wyre Forest the majority of those currently claiming council tax benefit live in band A and B properties, which means that they will have to find less per week to put towards their bill.”

The Government has decided that pensioners must retain their 100 per cent discount.

The cabinet will propose the scheme to the overview and scrutiny committee and full council will then take a decision at its November meeting.

To help people who are least able to pay an element of their council tax, it is proposed a hardship fund is established.

The full proposals for the fund will be worked on as the recommendations for the council tax discount scheme are confirmed.