MSP’S council tax advice

Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon is urging low earners to claim council tax exemption.

Freedom of information requests have revealed that just 26 households in South Lanarkshire have been awarded the new benefit, which was introduced in April 2017. Across Scotland, fewer than 2000 households out of a potential 54,000 claimed the support.

The scheme was introduced to protect low income households being hit by changes to council tax band changes, and was designed to exempt some households from council tax increases.

Ms Lennon said: “Over 50,000 households across Scotland were meant to benefit from this exemption from higher council tax charges, but instead only 26 in South Lanarkshire actually are. Struggling families and pensioners are missing out on key support.”

An SNP spokesperson said: “Over the past few years the Scottish Government has invested more than £1 billion through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, helping more than 500,000.”