Local Council Tax Support DLA

sporty1

From 1 April 2013 the Government is scrapping Council Tax Benefit. Each council is expected to put a new scheme in place for working age people to continue to offer some support to those in need. The new scheme will be less generous and many people on low incomes will be forced to either pay some council tax, perhaps for the first time, or pay more towards their Council Tax as a result of these government cuts.

my question is even people who claim dla will they still have to pay a minimum of 20% ( at the moment i am sure people who claim dla are disregarded from paying council tax if they are unemployed but of working age ?

thank you

BigAunty

AFAIK, there is no automatic ring-fencing of the changes for DLA claimants. There is protection for pensioners and the single person discount of 25%.

Apart from that, I believe a local council has complete discretion how they manage it. They get less budget so have no choice but to restrict the discount and its up to them to come up with a scheme for it. Some, for example, aren't going to give any discount to claimants who live in properties higher than band D.

Many councils have started to either consult their local people or publish their proposals. Find out what your local council is planning.

This applies only in England, anyway.

System

Apart from a possible band reduction where the home is adapted for a disability, currently the only reductions available are for the severely mentally impaired and and those receiving care in their home.

DLA does not per se entitle a person to council tax reduction.

Pensioners have only been mentioned as a sound bite to stave of protest. You will need to look at the full bill to find out whether the above categories will continue to get a reduction/exemption.