Residents in the Horsham district are being asked to comment on changes to the Council Tax Benefit scheme.
At present, Council Tax Benefit is controlled by local authorities but entirely funded by the government. However, this will be changing next year.
From April 2013, this is being replaced by a local scheme which will be devised by the local authority, with the amount of funding from government lowered to 90 per cent of the current cost.
Each council will have its own Council Tax Support scheme, which will have its own eligibility criteria.
The proposal that Horsham District Council (HDC) is considering for the new 2013/2014 Council Tax Benefit scheme in the district is to match the eligibility rules and award calculations of the existing scheme.
This means that the benefit will be calculated in the same way under the new scheme as it was before.
Delaying any changes for a year will enable the Council to consider the impact of any changes on vulnerable people, in the light of experience elsewhere.
Residents are being asked to give their views on the changes in a consultation which will be running until Friday October 19 2012.
The council is asking residents if they agree with the proposal not to make changes to the Council Tax Benefit scheme for 2013/14.
A decision taking account of the consultation responses will be made at a meeting of full council on Wednesday December 19 2012 at HDC’s offices in North Street, Horsham.
For more information about the consultation or to submit a response, visit HDC’s website
Written responses will also be accepted and should be addressed to Council Tax Consultation, Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, RH12 1RL.
For more information, please call Horsham District Council on 01403 215100.
Comments