Council Tax support scheme proposals

Adult resident deductions

Q3a Change to other adult resident deductions (non-dependant deductions)

Replace the four existing weekly deduction rates with a flat rate of £5 for those out of work and £10 for those in work.

When a claimant has other adults in the household, like grown up children, relatives or friends, the amount of help they can receive is reduced in respect of each person. The current maximum weekly deduction is £12.45 and this would be replaced with a £10.00 weekly deduction.

For someone out of work the weekly deduction is £4.20 and this would change to £5.00.

Why

The change would make it easier for working-age people on Universal Credit to claim Council Tax Support. Currently a claim for Council Tax Support has to be made separately from Universal Credit.

The proposed changes would

  • make a claim for Council Tax Support automatic as part of the claim for Universal Credit
  • make re-claiming Council Tax Support after a short break in Universal Credit simpler

Although we get a lot of information from the Department for Work and Pensions regarding Universal Credit, we do not get any information regarding non-dependants. So, we can automate decisions for those on Universal Credit we want to apply a flat rate non-dependant deduction so any Council Tax Support due is paid quickly and without the need to complete a lengthy claim form.

Example

 

Tina lives with two non-dependants. Her current Council Tax Support is £26.78

Helen gets ESA Main Phase Income related and the ESA Support Group with PIP Daily Living Enhanced and PIP Mobility Enhance. She is exempt from NDD

Tom for 10 hours work he earns £129.78. Tom's earning means there is a £4.20 NDD. This would change to £10.00 and Tina's entitlement would reduce to £20.98. Annual Council Tax Support was £1,392.56 now £1,093.96

 

Most customers do not have any non-dependant deductions, either because they are disabled and require care or the non-dependant is on a welfare benefit or disabled and unable to contribute to the cost.

Q3a Is asking if you agree we should introduce flat rate deductions just for those claimants getting Universal Credit. There are currently 44 Working Age people on Universal Credit who have non-dependant deductions ranging from £4.20 to £12.85 per week.

Q3c Is asking if you agree we should introduce flat rate deductions for all working age claimants, not just those getting Universal Credit. There are currently 65 Working Age customers in total who have non-dependant deductions ranging from £4.20 to £12.85 per week.