From Monday 1 April 2013 Calderdale Council will replace the current Council Tax Benefit with a Council Tax Reduction scheme.
In the current scheme, the Government is responsible for ensuring that councils manage Council Tax Benefit by following clear guidelines. However, the new scheme will be designed and administered by Calderdale Council.
Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Pauline Nash, said:
“Government funding for the scheme has been reduced by around 10 per cent compared to the current Council Tax Benefit Scheme, a reduction which amounts to approximately £1.6 million in Calderdale. Council Members have made the decision not to pass this cut on this year so everyone will continue to receive the same level of support in the coming year, as they do under the current scheme. Existing Council Tax Benefit customers will automatically be transferred to the new scheme on 1 April 2013.”
Calderdale Council will be consulting in autumn on the proposed Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2014/15. Difficult decisions will need to be made about who will receive financial support from 1 April 2014 and how much help they will receive.
Pensioners will be protected from any changes and will continue to receive the same level of help under a national support scheme.
More information can be found on our website at Council Tax Reduction Scheme