Shropshire council tax relief claims fall

Between April and June last year, in Telford & Wrekin 14,908 people were receiving some form of council tax relief, according to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government figures.

However over the same period in 2018, that number had dropped fallen by two per cent to 14,567.

In Shropshire Council's area, the figure was even more dramatic. In the same period, 17,568 people were receiving some form of council tax relief. But between April and June 2018, that number had dropped to 16,767 – a five per cent decrease.

Across England there were three per cent fewer claimants overall.

People can be eligible to pay reduced council tax if they are on a low income, claim benefits or are a pensioner.

The amount can vary from a five per cent discount, to only paying five per cent of the total bill.

The Government sets the rate at which pensioners pay council tax, however individual local authorities decide on working claimants.

Affected

In Telford & Wrekin the number of pensioners claiming council tax relief dropped by 243 last year, and the number of working age claimants reduced by 98. In Shropshire the number fell by 530 last year, and the number of working age claimants reduced by 271.

In 2013 the Government stopped fully funding council tax relief. The Local Government Association believes this could have affected people on low incomes, and is urging the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to take back control of the reduction programmes.

“Council tax support schemes are no longer fully-funded by central government, with £1.7 billion – nearly half of the original funding – removed between 2013 and 2020,” a spokesman said.

“As a result, more than 573,000 households no longer received council tax support in October 2017 in comparison to October 2013.

“No one wants to ask those on the lowest incomes to pay more but many councils have been put in an impossible position.

“Faced with significant cuts to the money they have to look after the elderly and disabled, protect children, repair the roads and collect the bins, many councils have had little choice but to reduce the discount.”