HOUSEHOLDS are set for council tax bill hikes from next month but low income families may be able to get extra support.
Here is how you could get money if your council tax bill.
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Struggling households are already coping with rising fuel and energy bills.
But another bill could rise next month as local authorities set their council tax for the year.
The charges cover services such as bin collections and maintaining your local parks.
The Treasury announced last year that councils could hike their rates by up to 3% without having to hold a referendum.
On top of that, they can add an additional 2% which is ringfenced for adult social care.
That could mean a total 5% rise on your council tax bills as town halls look to balance their books in the aftermath of the pandemic.
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A household in a typical council tax band D property could see their bill increase from £1,898 a year to £1,992.
This extra £95 payment, on top of other rising costs, could particularly hit low income households.
But there is support available for struggling households and those on Universal Credit worth hundreds of pounds.
In some cases you could get a full 100% discount.
Here is how you could get money off your council tax bill.
Discounts for low income households
People on low incomes or benefits such as Universal Credit may be able to get a discount on their council tax.
This could be worth up to 100%.
It will depend where you live though as council tax reduction schemes are run by individual local authorities.
You can search for your local authority on the Gov.uk website and check what support is available.
The schemes are means-tested and will usually depend on your income and any children or adults living with you.
Single person discount
A single adult living in a property can get a 25% discount on their bill.
This is for people of all incomes and applies if you are the only adult living in the property.
That means you can get the discount if you live with a young person aged under 18 or someone who is 18 or 19 and in full time education.
If you or someone you live with is disabled
Your council may move you to a lower tax band if you or someone living in your property is disabled.
This is known as a disabled person’s reduction.
Each council will have its own criteria but you will need to be able to show a disabled person lives in the property and that it has either an extra kitchen or bathroom to meet the needs of a disabled person, any other room to help them or enough indoor space for a wheelchair.
You may also get 50% off your council tax bill if you live with someone who is severely mentally impaired.
A full list of circumstances that exempt you from paying council tax can be found on Citizens Advice.
Council tax rebate
From next month, households living in council tax band A to D properties will receive £150 off their bill as part of the government’s cost of living support.
The rebates will help around 80% of households but you won’t be eligible if you live in council tax bands E to H.
If you don’t qualify for the rebate, there is a separate £144million fund to be distributed by local authorities for vulnerable people or those on low incomes.
Check your council tax band
You could be paying too much council tax if you are in the wrong property band.
Experts estimate that up to 400,000 properties are still in the wrong band – meaning thousands of people are overpaying.
It is worth checking which band your neighbours are in first to see if you are paying too much
You could save money if you appeal and are successful.
Contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) in Scotland to appeal.
However, if you challenge your band with the council you might not be successful and you could actually end up paying more if they think you should be in a higher paying band.
Here is how to avoid missing out on the £150 council tax rebate.
It’s part of a package of support from the government designed to help ease the impact of the cost of living crisis.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
