Runnymede Voice - Runnymede Borough Council

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Changes to Council Tax Beneft
The Government is developed for the county. “This is one of the biggest
abolishing the present national Apart from pensioners and changes to the benefts system
Council Tax Beneft (CTB) some disabled people, who in 20 years. Everyone affected
scheme from 1 April 2013 and will be protected from the needs to know about it and to
all councils must replace it changes, everyone currently understand what it could mean
with their own local schemes entitled to CTB will have to for them. Information will be
to be known as Council Tax pay something towards their available on our web site and
Support (CTS). At the same Council Tax. there will be leafets in the
time, the money provided by Civic Centre in Addlestone.
the Government for councils to Runnymede Council has Unfortunately, due to the large
use to fund their CTS schemes just fnished consulting with number of people who will be
is being reduced by 10%. As existing claimants, residents affected by the changes, we
a result, Runnymede Council and interest groups around will not be able to tell them how
could have around £450,000 the borough on its variation much Council Tax Support they
less to spend each year on of the scheme. The new will actually receive until we
helping people to pay their scheme has to be set by 31 send out the 2013/14 Council
Council Tax. January 2013 so that it can Tax bills in March next year.”
be in place for April 2013.
We have worked with the Details of the proposed
other district and borough Council Tax Support scheme
councils in Surrey responsible for Runnymede, on which we
for developing and running the consulted, are outlined in this
new local schemes, and Surrey article. However, some of the
County Council, to ensure scheme may change until it
the fairest result for Surrey is confrmed by the Council
people. There will be local meeting in
variations across the districts mid-January 2013.
and boroughs to take account
of local circumstances, but a The Council’s Head of
general CTS scheme has been Revenues and Benefts, said
Proposed changes under the new Council Tax
Support scheme
If you are of working age, the main changes means that anything under £5 would not
proposed from 1 April 2013 are as follows. be paid.
• You would have to pay at least 20% of your • Under the current Council Tax Beneft
annual Council Tax charge. scheme, set amounts of earned income,
• Council Tax Support would be restricted to depending on family size, are not used in
no more than Band D. So, if you live in a the calculation of the weekly beneft.
Band E, F, G, or H property, your Council Tax Each of these amounts would be increased
Support would be assessed on by £5 per week which means that less
Band D only. of earned income would be used in the
• A reduced savings limit of £6,000. This assessment. This is to encourage people
means that if you have savings of £6,000 or to actively seek work or stay
more you would not be entitled to Council in employment.
Tax Support. • Child Beneft and child maintenance would
• Second Adult Rebate would be ended. So, continue to be disregarded, as they are
if you receive it currently, it would stop. under the Council Tax Beneft scheme.
• The maximum period for backdating of This would maintain that level of protection
claims would be reduced from six months to within the new scheme for people
three months as it is currently with children.
for pensioners. • War disablement and war widow(er)’s
• The minimum amount of Council Tax Support pensions would continue to be fully
payable would change from 1p to £5. This disregarded in the assessment of income.
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Runnymede Voice visit www.runnymede.gov.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Council Tax? Who will be able to get the new Council Tax
Council Tax is a local property tax. It is Support?
set by each council based on a property’s If you currently receive Council Tax Beneft
valuation band. Each home is placed in you will be assessed automatically for the new
one of eight valuation bands (A-H), based Council Tax Support and will not need to
on its value at 1 April 1991. Runnymede reapply. Anyone who has to pay Council Tax
Borough Council is responsible for collecting may apply for Council Tax Support and will be
the Council Tax which funds the majority of assessed in the same way as current claimants
local public services provided by us, Surrey moving from the existing Council Tax Beneft to
County Council and Surrey Police. the new scheme.
Who has to pay Council Tax? Will you be able to appeal against the
Council tax is a charge which is usually paid Council’s decision?
by the occupants or owner of the property. You will be able to appeal against your
individual assessment for Council Tax Support.
What is Council Tax Beneft? CTS will be classed as a Council Tax discount
Council Tax Beneft is a means-tested instead of a state beneft so appeals against
beneft that helps people on low incomes decisions made by the Council regarding
to pay their Council Tax bill. In Surrey it is the assessment of entitlement will have to
administered by the district and borough
councils using rules set nationally by the
be made to a local Valuation Tribunal.
government. No money is paid to claimants When will you be told your
but their Council Tax bills are reduced by the new entitlement?
amount of beneft to which they are entitled. The new entitlements have to be assessed in
time for 2013/14 Council Tax bills so you will
Will anyone not be affected by be informed of your new entitlement sometime
the changes? in early March 2013. It will not be before then
People of pension age will be protected within as thousands of claims will be affected and
any new CTS scheme. Their Council Tax Support they will all be reassessed at the same time.
will remain unchanged. The Council’s proposed Is there any more information available?
scheme would also fully protect disabled people The Council has produced a leafet called
who currently qualify for the severe or enhanced “Prepare for the Change” which provides some
premiums under the current CTB scheme as examples of how you might be affected. The
well as families with disabled dependants. leafet is available at the Civic Centre
in Addlestone.
Information is also available on our website www.runnymede.gov.uk
If you would like a copy of the “prepare for the change” leafet sent to you please call 01932 425388.
Council Tax is also changing
From 1 April 2013 there We are considering applying full charge in future from the
could also be changes to the 0% Council Tax discounts which date of repossession.
exemptions and discounts would mean the full Council Tax
allowed on empty properties. would be payable throughout Owners of properties that
the periods the properties are have been lying empty for over
Under the current rules, out of use. two years may have to pay up
property owners can to 50% on top of the applicable
apply for exemptions from Second home owners Council Tax. This will be to
paying Council Tax for up currently qualify for a 10% encourage them to bring the
to 12 months on an empty discount in Runnymede but from properties back into use. It
and unfurnished property April 2013 this may be changed would be removed when the
undergoing major structural to 0% and the full Council Tax properties are again occupied.
repair and for up to six months charge would
for other empty unfurnished be payable. Final decisions on these
properties, e.g. for properties changes will be taken
between lets. From April 2013, Council Tax is not paid on at the Council meeting
these exemptions are being repossessed properties under in January 2013.
abolished and the Council may the present rules. However,
replace them with discounts. mortgagees will be liable for the
issue no.17 Winter 2012/ Spring 2013