TENS of thousands of households are in line to get up to a 100% discount on their council tax.
Council Tax Support is a scheme where those on a low income or benefits can get money off the bill.
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But the discount you get varies depending on your circumstances and where you live.
London authority Camden Council recently announced it is set to extend its Council Tax Support scheme for a fourth year from April 2024.
Around 16,000 households will pay no council tax at all while a further 6,000 will receive at least a partial discount.
The proposed extension is set to be debated by the council in early 2024 and will take effect from April 1, 2024.
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The current rate of council tax for a Band D property in Camden is currently £1,791 so eligible households can make a fair saving.
Councillor Richard Olszewski, cabinet member for finance and cost of living, said: “Many of our residents are working hard throughout the week for very low wages – this is wrong and we want to help alleviate some of the financial pressures they face.
He added: “We are proposing to invest £31million to run the scheme in the coming year – we want residents to know the Council is there for them when times are toughest.”
Who is eligible?
You can apply for Council Tax Support in Camden if all of the following applies:
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- You are liable for Council Tax
- You are on a low income
- You or your partner have savings or assets of less than £16,000
Savings and assets can include any of the following:
- cash savings
- savings in banks, building societies or the Post Office
- money in current accounts
- Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)
- premium bonds and income bonds
- National Savings Certificates
- lump sums such as redundancy payments, insurance payments and back payments of Social Security benefits
- tax refunds
- money invested in a business and business assets
- property, such as a house you own but don’t live in
- money you have borrowed
You should note, if you receive Pension Guarantee Credit, the £16,000 limit does not apply.
You can apply for council tax support on Camden Council’s website, and call 020 7974 4444 if you need any help.
Before making an application for Council Tax Support, you should have the following to hand:
- what benefits you already receive
- how much you earn or receive in pensions
- your National Insurance number
- details of members of your household, for example their dates of birth and income
How much will I get off?
How much you can get off depends on your circumstances.
For example, if you are not working or earn less than £95.60 a week, you won’t have to pay any council tax.
Anyone earning about this will receive a discount, but the amounts vary.
For example, if you do not have children and earn between the following amounts, this is what you will get off:
- £95.60 and £191.19 per week: 55% off
- £191.20 and £430.19 per week: 35% off
If you have children and earn between the following amounts this is what you will get off:
- £95.60 and £191.19 per week: 65% off
- £191.20 and £430.19 per week: 45% off
- £430.20 and £473.21 per week: 30% off
- £473.22 and £537.75 per week: 15% off
You can also get a discount if you are disabled or a carer.
You or your partner must receive the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, the care component of Disability Living Allowance, or Carer’s Allowance.
If this is you and you earn between the following amounts this is what you will get off:
- £95.60 and £191.19 per week: 85% off
- £191.20 and £430.19 per week: 55% off
- £430.20 and £473.21 per week: 45% off
- £473.22 and £537.75 per week: 30% off
You can also get a council tax reduction if you have to cover childcare costs, are of pension age or are on certain benefits like Universal Credit.
But again, how much you can get off depends on your income.
You can check out Camden Council’s website for further details.
What about if I don’t live in Camden?
You might still be able to get help covering the cost of council tax if you live outside of the Camden area.
But because each council gets to set its own Council Tax Support criteria, what you can get off depends on where you live.
You can find out if you’re eligible by using the Government’s “Apply for Council Tax Reduction” tool on its website.
You just have to enter your postcode and it will redirect you to your council’s website where you can find out more.
Bear in mind, the amount of council tax you will get off varies depending on what band you are in as well.
Council tax bands range from A to H, with A homes paying the least and H the most.
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If you think you’re in the wrong council tax band, and paying too much, you can challenge it.
You can do this via the Government’s website. But bear in mind you may challenge your band and find you end up paying more.
