Council Tax Reduction Scheme
What’s happened to Council Tax Benefit?
From April 2013 Council Tax Benefit has been abolished and replaced by a locally designed Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS). South Northamptonshire Council has agreed a new local scheme and detailed regulations governing the scheme.
What is Council Tax Reduction?
Council Tax Reduction is South Northamptonshire Council’s scheme to help low income families with their Council Tax bills from 1 April 2013.
You may be eligible if you pay Council Tax and your income and capital are below a certain level.
The maximum amount of Council Tax Reduction a working age household will receive is 91.5% of their Council Tax liability. This means that most households of working age will now need to pay at least 8.5% of their Council Tax as the amount of The Council Tax Reduction will not cover the bill in full.
The government has introduced regulations to ensure that pensioners (those who have reached the age for state pension credit) are no worse off under Council Tax reduction.
Second Adult Rebate
If you cannot get a single person discount because you share your accommodation with other adults you can claim a second adult rebate under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The Second Adult Rebate is worked out on the income of the other adults living with you. You cannot get a Second Adult Rebate if you have a partner living with you or if someone pays you rent to live in your house.
You cannot get both Council Tax Reduction and Second Adult Rebate at the same time. If you qualify for both we will award you the one that pays the most.
To find out if you are entitled for help with your Council Tax use our link to online calculator.
How to make an application for Council Tax Reduction
If you wish to make an application for Council Tax Reduction please telephone 01327 322140 to request a claim form or you can download an application form.
If you disagree with our assessment of your Council Tax Reduction
If you do not agree with any decision we have made in assessing your Council Tax Reduction please write to us stating that you would like us to look again at our decision. It is important that you state clearly what you think is wrong with the decision.
Your claim will then be looked at again and we will write to you with our decision.
If you are still not happy after we have reviewed our decision you can take your case to the Valuation Tribunal Service. The Valuation Tribunal Service is an independent tribunal made up of people who are not from the local authority.
If you have a change in circumstances
If your situation changes after your Council Tax Reduction has been assessed then this may change the amount of council tax reduction you should receive. You need to tell us about any changes as soon as they happen.
We need to know if there are any changes in your income or savings including that of your partner and changes in your household.
You can tell us about the changes by completing a change of circumstances form and returning it by post to the Council.
If you do not tell us you may be paid too much Council Tax Reduction and we will ask you to pay the money back.