New council tax benefit scheme

Released on: 29 January 2013

From 1 April 2013 the government is replacing council tax benefit with a local scheme providing support for council tax for residents on low incomes. The government previously funded all council tax benefit, but this is no longer the case.                  

After considering various options, Tandridge District Council has decided to adopt the government’s suggested scheme.

Any changes will only affect people of working age, including those on the lowest income, but it is expected Tandridge’s scheme will have little impact on residents who currently claim council tax benefit, as it is very similar to the old scheme.

People who have reached Pension Credit qualifying age will be protected and continue to get the same level of entitlement as they do under the current council tax benefit rules.

People in receipt of disability related benefit will also be protected and will continue to receive the same level of entitlement as they do under the current council tax benefit.

Where any claimant experiences exceptional hardship they may apply to the Council which will consider their individual circumstances. In certain cases further support may be granted if they are experiencing exceptional difficulties in meeting their council tax liability.

The council tax support scheme will be reviewed in a year.

For more details about the new scheme please call the benefits team on 01883 732900, e-mail benefits@tandridge.gov.uk, or visit http://www.tandridge.gov.uk/.

Councillor Martin Fisher, Chairman of the Resources Committee, said: "It is early days and the government support scheme, the best way to implement it and the costs are still unclear.  We will be spending next year clarifying all these aspects, so we can see whether we need to amend the scheme the following year.”

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