Who is affected

People of working age are likely to be most affected by cuts to funding for council tax support. Because support for pensioners is protected, the number of pensioners needing help in any area could affect the amount of money available to help individuals and families of working age. Local councils may choose to use local funds to support low-income families in their area, or may choose to limit the benefits available instead.

If councils decide that everybody in their area should pay something, it is possible that in some areas people claiming benefits will have to pay something towards their council tax bill. Local councils will be put in the position of having to collect small sums of money from people who can least afford to pay.

This may be a big change for some people who currently get a full rebate under the Council Tax Benefit scheme.

Depending on where you live, Council Tax Reduction may be:

• a discount worked out as a percentage of your council tax bill;

• a discount on an amount set out in the scheme;

• a discount on the whole amount of the council tax bill.

Check with your local authority to see what kind of scheme they’re putting in place.

Appeals against a decision about Council Tax Benefit are currently made through the independent Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. In future, appeals against a decision about Council Tax Reduction will be made through the Valuation Tribunal.