Thousands of households will be receiving a discount on their council tax as part of one local council’s cost of living support package.
The Household Support Fund offers financial support for a wide range of things such as the cost of essentials like groceries, toiletries, and warm clothes, as well as provide further support with energy bills.
Plymouth Council has launched a new discretionary scheme as part of the Household Support Fund.
The DWP increased the fund to £842million from April this year in a bid to, provide more help for vulnerable households across England. The scheme is set to run until March 31, 2024.
Residents in Plymouth who receive Council Tax Support (CTS) from the council will receive a one-off payment of £25 to go towards their council tax bill.
Plymouth Council said around 8,000 residents will be receiving this cost of living help over the next few weeks.
The £25 payments will be made automatically over the next few weeks with those eligible receiving an amended council tax bill.
Chris Penberthy, cabinet member for housing, cooperative development and communities, said: “We promised to do all that we could to help people with the cost of living and so I’m delighted to be able to bring this scheme forward.
“To some, £25 may not seem a lot of money but to others, it’s quite simply the difference between eating or not eating; between a heated home or a cold one. It’s absolutely the right thing to do and I look forward to seeing eligible residents benefit.”
Who can claim Council Tax Reduction?
Council Tax Support residents who do not already:
What is Council Tax?
The council tax reduction scheme is a way of reducing the amount of council tax someone must pay if they are on a low income.
The amount of any reduction is based on a means test, taking individual circumstances into account.
There are different rules depending on whether someone is classed as a pensioner or working age.
The amount of council tax discount someone gets will depend on their individual circumstances.
What someone gets depends on:
- where they live – each council runs its own scheme
- their circumstances (for example income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
- their household income – this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income
- if their children live with them
- if other adults live with them
Britons might get a discount automatically on their council tax bill, however, if they’re not sure they can contact their local council to find out their eligibility requirements.
What other discounts are available?
On the Money Saving Expert website, Martin Lewis and the team explain the amount of council tax one pays depends on the number of ‘qualifying adults’ are in the property.
Two or more qualifying adults in a household means that no discount applies, and the full council tax is due.
One qualifying adult in a household means that a single-person discount applies, equivalent to 25 percent off the council tax bill.
No qualifying adults in a household result in either a discount of 50 percent or a 100 percent exemption, depending on exactly who lives in the property.
It should be noted that having no qualifying adults is not the same as when a property is unoccupied.
