Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/20

Status: Closed

The Council is consulting on changes to the existing Council Tax Reductions scheme for working age people from 1st April 2019.

The Council has to decide whether to keep the same scheme as now and, if so, how to pay for it; or whether to make changes to help reduce the cost of the scheme and to help it work alongside Universal Credit.

Results reports:

• Localisation of Council Tax Support: Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/20 - Agenda Paper

Key findings and changes made:

There were a total of 202 responses to this consultation.

Should current scheme continue? Yes 38% No 44% Don’t know 18%

Should we implement the following options?

Option 1 – Income Grid Yes 46% No 23% Don’t know 30%
Option 2 – Limit the number of dependent children Yes 61% No 23% Don’t know 16%
Option 3 – Remove non-dependent deductions Yes 54% No 28% Don’t know 18%
Option 4 – Change the claiming process for all applicants who receive UC Yes 79% No 7% Don’t know 14%
Option 5 – Remove current earnings disregards Yes 61% No 17% Don’t know 21%
Option 6 – Disregard Carer’s Allowance Yes 68% No 15% Don’t know 17%
Option 7 – Remove conditions that prevent certain students from claiming Yes 58% No 15% Don’t know 27%
Option 8 – Remove the extended payment provision Yes 54% No 21% Don’t know 24%
Option 9 – Alter the effective date of change of circumstances Yes 81% No 7% Don’t know 12%
Option 10 – Compensate for the absence of Disability Premiums Yes 68% No 12% Don’t know 21%

Other Options

Increase Council Tax Yes 19% No 69% Don’t know 13%
Reduce funding available for other services Yes 21% No 58% Don’t know 21%
Use Council reserves Yes 42% No 39% Don’t know 20%

Topics covered by this consultation:

Benefits & Local Taxation

Consultation Start Date: 30/07/2018

Consultation End Date: 21/09/2018

Results expected by: 12/10/2018

Please note: these dates are subject to change.

Areas covered by this consultation:

Wealden District (All)

Target audience for this consultation:

Service Users

Frequency of this consultation: One-off

Methods of consultation used:

Postal, Online (All Public)

What Happens Next?

We will listen carefully to what residents tell us and take the consultation responses into consideration alongside other evidence and information when making the final decision on the 2019/20 Council Tax Reduction scheme.

Following the decision, the full results from the consultation will be available on the Council’s website.

The new scheme will start on 1 April 2019. The Council will consider the impact of the scheme annually and consult again if it thinks further changes need to be made.