Changes to city’s council tax support
Important changes in how Sunderland City Council operates its Council Tax Support Scheme – and how families will be affected – could come into effect next year.
The scheme helps people on low incomes cut the cost of the amount they pay in council tax.
There is no proposal to change the protection for pensioners, who will still be eligible for up to 100% reduction; or the requirement for working-age people to pay a minimum 8.5% contribution.
But there are six changes proposed, including removing the Family Premium for new claimants, and people are being invited to have their say,
The six proposed changes, most of which will only affect new working-age claimants, are:
Automatically notifying Universal Credit claimants that they can submit a council tax support application.
Reducing backdated claims from six months to one month.
Reducing the allowable temporary absence period from Great Britain from a maximum of 13 to four weeks. Exceptions apply to certain groups.
Assessing self-employed claimants (after a period of 12 months) as having income equivalent to the Minimum Income Floor.
Removing the Family Premium for new working age claimants from April 2018.
Limiting the number of dependent children to two.
Cabinet Secretary Councillor Mel Speding, said: “This is all about making minor technical and administrative changes to allow us to align the scheme to Housing Benefit and Universal Credit rules, at the same time making the local council tax support scheme more efficient to administer and easier for people to understand.”
People can give their views by completing a simple survey, https://goo.gl/ zYwY8Q. The survey closes on November 19 and all completed surveys must be received by this date.
Consultation responses will help shape the finalised proposals that will be considered for approval in January and will be applied from 1 April 2018.
Alternatively, anyone who would like a paper copy can contact 0191 561 1614 or email consultation@sunderland.gov.uk
Paper copies of the surveys should be returned to any council Customer Service Centre or posted to: Council Tax Support Scheme Consultation, Policy Partnerships and Communications, Freepost Plus RTHL-TJHS-TXGA, Sunderland City Council, Civic Centre, Burdon Road, Sunderland, SR2 7DN.