Council tax support consultation

Published Tuesday 4 October, 2022
Last updated on Tuesday 11 October, 2022

People are being asked for their views on proposed changes to Swale Borough Council’s council tax reduction scheme to make it easier for working age people to get support with council tax bills.

The council tax reduction scheme, which has been in place since 2013, provides support to working age people who are struggling to pay their council tax bills, but is currently restricted to a means-based approach which is a complicated system.

The council’s ability to process claims is further complicated by the Universal Credit system, making it difficult for people to make claims and for those claims to be processed.

The proposed changes try to simplify the process and were discussed at the council’s policy and resources committee meeting, where it was agreed that the proposed changes should go to public consultation.

Cllr Mike Baldock, chair of the policy and resources committee at the council, said:

“The proposed changes to the council tax reduction scheme are long overdue.

“As people contend with the cost-of-living crisis, it’s important that we look at what support we provide and how we get it to those who need it.

“My hope is that the changes will make it easier for our poorest households to access the support they need.”

“With the current scheme being so complicated and the introduction of the Government’s Universal Credit in recent years, it’s becoming problematic for the people who are applying for help, and for our officers who are trying to process the claims.

“We’re proposing to simplify the process and make it easier for us to get the right support to those who really need it, and we want to hear your thoughts.”

The public consultation is now live and will close on 27 November 2022.

The results of the consultation will be considered by the council’s policy and resources committee before full council decides whether to make the changes. If agreed, the changes would come into effect from Saturday, 1 April 2023.

For more information, and to take part, visit www.swale.gov.uk/ctrs-consultation.