So now we know. Council tax on average will be an
extra £1 a week for people in England. Slightly lower rises – in cash terms –
will apply in Scotland and Wales, writes Paul Lewis
A pound a week may not seem much. But in the same week the basic state pension
goes up by £3.05. In other words, nearly a third of the extra pension will go
straight back to the Government in council tax.
Of course, a lot of older people – around two million – could get help with
their council tax if they asked for it. Collectively that would save them well
over a billion pounds a year. But there are no plans to make claiming easier or
to relax the rules.
Last week, in a report on local government finance, Sir Michael Lyons
recommended that council tax benefit should be renamed council tax rebate and
the savings limit to get it should be raised from £16,000 to £50,000.
Local Government Minister Phil Woolas said "We will consider the wider proposals
on council tax benefit in the light of practicalities and affordability". He
added that any fundamental change in the structure of council tax itself would
have to wait until after the next election.
That announcement was in sharp contrast to the Government's approach in Northern
Ireland. There, the plans to impose new water charges on every household caused
such controversy in the recent elections that Northern Ireland Secretary Peter
Hain promised they would not be imposed by London if the DUP and Sinn Fein sat
down together and agreed to share power.
Within hours of the historic agreement to do just that he went on television to
make sure people in Northern Ireland knew that the water bills "though they are
sitting in their envelopes, as we had made clear, will not be going out" so that
the politicians taking power in Belfast "can take charge of the issue and they
can do what they want to do."
In the rest of the UK the Government is reluctant to make any change in local
taxes. Meanwhile people can help themselves before the new charge begins on
Sunday.
• If you live alone claim your 25% discount. This is not related to
your income – it just depends on being the only adult in the house. Students and
some others do not count as adults and do not stop you getting the rebate.
• If your home has been adapted for someone with a disability you may be able to
get your home moved down one tax band – that will cut your tax by about 17%.
• If your income is low you may qualify for what Sir Michael calls a council tax
rebate.
Ask your council. For once you might hear something you like.
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