Council Tax Benefit Consultation

All working age people currently receiving benefit are likely to see changes to the amount they receive under new local schemes being prepared by councils across the country.

It follows the 2010 Spending Review, in which the Government announced its intention to localise financial support for council tax from April 2013.

Its means that council tax benefit - the current means of helping people on low incomes meet their council tax obligations - will be replaced by new local support schemes.

And with the amount of funding provided to local authorities to run the new schemes expected to be at least 10 per cent less, some claimants will have to pay council tax for the first time.

This could be people who work part-time, are in low paid jobs, have retired early and are living on small private pensions, or living on state benefits.

The new Council Tax Support Scheme must be approved by 31 January 2013 and implemented by 1 April 2013.

Drop in sessions for anyone wishing to find out more about the proposed changes will take place in the Ribble Valley Borough Civic Suite in Church Walk, Clitheroe, on Wednesday 3 October, from 10.00am 12.00pm and 2.00 to 4.00pm.

The consultation ends on 31 October and for more information see Consultation on Changes to Council Tax Benefit or go straight to the online questionnaire.

Further details are available from Ribble Valley Borough Council on 01200 425111.