The consultation is now closed, see below for further information.
Details of the final scheme can be found at this link.
Council Tax Benefit is changing from April 2013, and being replaced by a local Council Tax Support scheme. Each council has to decide which form this scheme will take.
The new scheme has been approved, please follow the link above for more information. Benefit claimants will be
notified of their entitlement shortly.
To assist the council in deciding how the scheme will operate, we consulted with members of the public.
To find out more about changes introduced by the Welfare Reform Act 2012, see here for further information.
For the results of the consultation please click here
What is Council Tax Benefit?
Council Tax Benefit helps people on low income to pay their Council Tax. Rules about claiming this benefit are administered
by Central Government. Entitlement to benefit is deducted from each claimant’s Council Tax bill (no money is paid directly
to claimants).
How this is changing- the Council Tax Support scheme
Council Tax Benefit is being abolished and replaced by a local Council Tax Support scheme. Many households will pay
more Council Tax under the new scheme, whilst others are not currently affected. Pensioners will not be affected in the new
scheme (e.g. if a pensioner currently claims 100% Council Tax Benefit, they will receive 100% Council Tax Support). For
more information about who is classed as a pensioner for Council Tax Support purposes, click here.
Prior to 1 April 2013, all the money to pay Council Tax Benefit claims is being paid for by Central Government,
no matter how many people claim. When the Council Tax Support scheme is introduced, this will change.
From April 2013, the amount of money that the council gets is going to be a set amount, and is being reduced by 10%. This
means that spending on Council Tax Support directly affects the Council's budget (unlike Council Tax Benefit).
Some of the main priorities in designing the new scheme were:
- The scheme should encourage people to find work
- It should protect the most vulnerable in our society
- It should be clear in operation
- It should be fair.
Most Council Tax discounts and exemptions (not currently means tested)- e.g. the 25% single adult occupier discount- will not change.
How you have helped
The Council undertook a a public consultation between 21 September 2012 and 16 November 2012. The consultation
has now closed. Please click here to view
the results
The information that has been provided in the surveys has been taken into account when deciding the final form of the scheme. See below for an explanatory booklet and a copy of the original draft scheme. Any further enquiries about the scheme can be addressed to: benefitservices@stoke.gov.uk