I need help to pay a council tax bill

Q: I have received by latest council tax bill. I am going to really struggle to pay it in full this year as my hours of work have been reduced. What help is available?

A: If you are having problems paying your council tax it’s important to keep in contact with your local authority and to let them know of any change of circumstances and to discuss potential repayment options. You need to deal with some debts more urgently than others because the consequences of not paying them can be more serious than for other debts. These are known as priority debts and include council tax debts. So far this year we have seen a 35% increase in the number of enquiries about council tax arrears.

Local authorities in England are responsible for running their own local schemes for help with council tax. These are called Council Tax Reduction schemes. You can no longer make a claim for Council Tax Benefit. Council Tax Reduction – also known as Council Tax Support – is a reduction you may be able to get on your council tax if you’re on a low income

Everyone of working age has to pay something towards their council tax bill, with few exceptions. When deciding on its scheme, a local authority should take into account the needs of vulnerable people and support work incentives.

If you receive Council Tax Support, you are of working age and you are in a vulnerable financial situation you may be able to receive short-term assistance from the Council Tax Support – Exceptional Hardship Fund. Check the local authority website for more details of the Council Tax Support scheme and how to apply for help from the Exceptional Hardship Fund.

If you’re a pensioner, you should still be able to get the same level of Council Tax Reduction as you would have done if you were getting Council Tax Benefit. This means that if your income is less than an amount the government says you need to live on you will be entitled to maximum Council Tax Reduction. If you get the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit, your income and capital are ignored and you will get full Council Tax Reduction. When working out your entitlement to Council Tax Reduction, the way some things are dealt with will be the same for all pensioners. This includes:

The way your income and capital are worked out.

The way your applicable amount is worked out. This is the amount the government says you need to live on.

The way non-dependant deductions are worked out.

The way temporary absences from home are dealt with.

For more information and advice go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk