Council tax benefit cuts

• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  4 August 2012     09:26186028
  #1       report
  courtesy of the independent.
  
  
  Low-income families could lose hundreds of pounds a year under controversial Coalition moves to slash council tax benefit payments.
  
  Ministers have ordered widespread cuts to the benefit to save the Treasury £500m a year - but have told councils they have to decide who will lose the money. Council chiefs, including senior Tories, have denounced the reductions which will come into force in April, protesting that they will leave them facing impossible decisions over where the axe should fall. The Independent understands they have raised the issue with ministers.
  
  About six million people currently have all their council tax paid or are given some money towards it. The average payment is almost £16 a week. From April, the amount of money the Treasury will give to town halls to redistribute as council tax benefit is being cut by 10 per cent.
  
  Benefits being paid to the elderly are protected, so the cuts could fall heavily on the unemployed and those in low-paid jobs. Alternatively, council tax bills could be raised across the board to make up the shortfall.
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  4 August 2012     11:23186035
  #2       report
  This was part of my recent Newsletter - inviting people to give feedback.
  
  "Changes to Council Tax provision:
  Dover District Council want to inform you that from April 2013 there will be some major changes to Council Tax and Council Tax benefit that may affect local residents.
  Consultation about the proposed changes begins today to seek the views of local residents and landlords.
  
  You can view the proposals and the Equality Impact Assessment in full online at www.dover.gov.uk/counciltaxchanges.
  
  Information packs have been sent to benefit claimants, landlords and a sample group of Council Tax payers. We will also be contacting other stakeholders and interested parties with details of the proposed scheme.
  
  Participation in the consultation is not limited to the sample groups, we are happy to hear the views from all interested parties. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposal is encouraged to complete the consultation questionnaire online but paper copies will be available at the council's offices or can be requested through the central information line on 01227 862310 between 9am and 5pm. This information line has been set up as a partnership between Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council and Thanet District Council".
  
  Make your voice heard, join in the consultation."
  
  Has anyone written in giving their views ?
  
  
  
  Roger
• Keith Sansum1

  • Location: london
  • Registered: 25 Aug 2010
  • Posts: 23,942
  5 August 2012     08:09186115
  #3       report
  given my feedback have you????
  ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS