Council
Tax Support
The Government, as part of their welfare reform agenda, has
abolished Council Tax Benefit from 1st April 2013. Each Council in
the country has had to create their own scheme, but the amount of
money the Government pays each Council for these awards, has been
reduced by 10%. The new scheme is called Council tax Support.
If your family or someone who lives with you is on a low
income, you may be able to receive Council Tax Support to help
reduce your Council Tax bill. To qualify, you must be living in the
property and be responsible for paying the Council Tax. You can get
help with your bill through one of two Council Tax Support
schemes.
If at 31st march 2013, you already receive, or have an
outstanding application for Council Tax Benefit, you do not need to
claim again for Council Tax Support. Your exisiting award of
Council Tax Benefit will automatically become Council Tax Support.
An outstanding application for Council Tax Benefit, will be treated
as an application for Council Tax Support.
If you do not qualify for Council Tax Benefit, or do not have an
application waiting to be dealt with, then you can apply for
Council Tax Support. This can be done as a joint claim
for Housing Benefit, as was the case with Council Tax Benefit.
You should claim as soon as possible, because if you delay you may
lose out. You may apply even if you do not have all the supporting
information, as this can be sent to us later. Council Tax Support
is normally only payable from the Monday after the form is
requested. It cannot normally be backdated, so do not delay. If you
wish to apply, please download an
application form or contact 01905 822744 to request the
claim form or get a form at any of our contact centres in Malvern, Tenbury
Wells and Upton.
Please note that the timescale for notifying
the council of a change in your circumstances has changed. For
Council Tax benefit it was 1 calendar month, but from 1st April
2013 for Council Tax Support, changes must be reported to us within
21 days. If you do not do this, a penalty may be imposed on you.
The timescale for reporting changes that relate to Housing Benefit,
is still 1 calendar month.
Scheme One: The Main Support Scheme
Who can receive this type of support?
If you are liable to pay Council Tax you can apply. The amount
of support you receive will be based on:
- your capital, including savings (if you and / or your partner
have over £16,000 you will not qualify unless you receive pension
credit guarantee)
- your income, including tax credits, earnings and any other
state benefits
- the amount of Council Tax you pay
- your family circumstances e.g. the age of you and / or your
partner, the number of dependant children, whether anyone is
disabled
Scheme Two: Second Adult Rebate Scheme
Who can receive this type of support?
- people who have 'other adult(s)' sharing their home who are on
a low income
- couples can claim if one of them is not counted in the Council
Tax calculation
The support will depend on the personal circumstances and income
of the 'other adult(s)'. Your own personal circumstances, income
and capital will not be taken into account.