Council tax benefit changes will take place across England from April 2013
Government cuts could leave Broadland’s unemployed and low-earners losing 25pc of their council tax benefit
Richard Wheeler
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
5:48 PM
Unemployed and low-earners aged between 18 and 65 could lose almost 25pc of their council tax benefit within months.
And Broadland District Council has today warned single parents, war veterans and disabled people might also endure cuts in their council tax support under government proposals.
Ministers want to reduce the annual £4.2bn council tax benefit bill by 10pc from April 2013.
To achieve this, the government is planning to give district councils less money to pay people.
Broadland believes its district could lose £650,000, meaning it has to either find a way of making up the shortfall or work out who suffers as a result of the changes.
Elderly people have to be protected under the project, which means around 4,300 - almost 60pc - of people who claim benefit in Broadland will see no decrease in their payments.
But this means working age people will bear the brunt of the changes, with Broadland’s initial estimates suggesting they could lose 24.9pc of their benefit.
Councillors were today shown slides detailing how different groups of people would be affected by various cuts.
The results, which are not final, indicated all claimants could lose out to protect the elderly.
Paul Carrick, finance portfolio holder, told the overview and scrutiny committee: “The treasury has made the cut and left the councils to make incredibly tough decisions and face the inevitable fall out.”
Ideas were suggested by councillors to help find ways to raise money.
John Bracey, Sprowston East councillor, suggested ending council tax discounts to people with empty houses or multiple properties.
Ben McGilvray, Wroxham councillor, said: “It’s a tax increase on the poorest people and it’s not our decision.”
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12 comments
well said June, don't know why bookworm has a bee in his bonnet re bus passes - change the subject. More benefits to OAP's I say and whilst I accept not all oap's worked all their lives I bet a darn sight more worked than in this age of scroungers and alledgedly disabled people who can'twon't work - why don't they get bus passes? - because they get mobility cars -its all wrong!!!!!
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miss38
Thursday, June 28, 2012
It is a very badly written article. The funding is used to ensure that those on a low income to not have to pay full council tax. Council tax is an unfair tax in the first place with all but the quite hard up having to pay it,no matter how much or how little they have earned in the past. It is a tax on savings and the need for accommodation. Pensioners with low incomes who are no longer able to work are more vulnerable than the younger who at least have the opportunity. Single occupants are especially unfairly treated with only a 25% discount rather than the 50% which would seem fair. A tax based on the size and even location of a property penalises those who have saved or who need space for a family or to live in a certain location and has no relation to the services they use nor their income. If central government funding is removed councils will either have to charge those on low income more or raise council tax for those who do have to pay at present. Whichever happens if council tax bills rise substantially it could mean some people in both groups will no longer be able to afford to live where they do now. If it is people who have scrimped to own what they have it is very unfair. Property based tax should be abolished and replaced with income tax.
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Daisy Roots
Thursday, June 28, 2012
not all pensioners have worked 30 or 40 years.do not assume this.some younger people have worked as long if not longer.......
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bookworm
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
don't means test--just withdraw the bus passes.save millions.joy riders going to Yarmouth every day.make them pay.
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bookworm
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Even on a relatively modest occupational pension I pay full council tax, I am paying more to local government than I am in income tax! The so called "perks" pensioners get merely offset partially the ridiculous levels of local and national taxes. Means testing of bus passes and the fuel allowance would cost more than just giving it as a universal allowance! The so called"granny tax" has already lost the tories the next election,and rightly so,we have worked all our lives and deserve a more generous tax break,and the mean spiritedness of the chancellor will not be forgiven or forgotten!
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Harry Rabinowitz
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
i repeat--perks like free bus passes are a luxury the country cannot afford.
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bookworm
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Personally bookworm as a pensioner with a small company pension on top of my state one, i am fed up with people assuming we are all wealthy, We still pay income tax, pay for dental treatment and opticians and get no help with anything, including council tax.Therefore i have no qualms about receiving my winter fuel allowance or my bus pass. Most baby boomers grew up in a time of full employment so all had chance to save for a comany or extra pension,i was a single woman,i managed it on one income. Many who didnt bother who are on pension credit are better off than me, as this entitles them to get lots of help, all denied to me as i bothered to help myself, Personally id like a job, i have a work ethic and i am fortunate to be fit, healthy and young for my age, but try getting one over 60, my old company where i had worked for many years and had hoped to work until at least 65 was hell bent on getting rid of over 55s. In spite of age discrimination legislation most companies feel the same. So can we please stop assuming all pensioners with extra pensions are travelling the world, and living the life of riley, we are not, and find our winter fuel allowance and bus pass very necessary.
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june muskett
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
and meanwhile all OAPS get perks and free bus passes.totally unfair.
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bookworm
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
and meanwhile all OAPS get perks and free bus passes.totally unfair.
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bookworm
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
and meanwhile all OAPS get perks and free bus passes.totally unfair.
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bookworm
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
and meanwhile all OAPS get perks and free bus passes.totally unfair.
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bookworm
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Why just Broadland ? Why do national stories and make out its just our town
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billytheolympicbookie
Tuesday, June 26, 2012