Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2020/21 Consultation Questionnaire
Test Valley Borough Council Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2020/21 Consultation Questionnaire
What is this consultation about? The purpose of this consultation is to consider options for changes to the Council’s Council Tax Reduction scheme. Any approved changes will come into effect from 1st April 2020.
What is Council Tax Reduction? Council Tax Reduction (CTR) is a discount for Council Tax. The level of discount is based on the income of the household. Currently, the maximum discount is 90% of Council Tax for most working age households. Pensioners can receive up to 100% CTR as their eligibility and entitlement are determined by Central Government.
Why is a change to the Council Tax Reduction scheme being considered?
2019/20 saw the introduction of a 90% CTR cap for most working-age claimants. This was a significant change that has resulted in a number of households being asked to pay an element of their Council Tax charge, where previously they had not been required to do so.
The proposals being considered for the 2020/21 scheme are less significant and are focused on simplifying the scheme for users. If implemented, less information will be required from applicants before a claim can be processed and CTR applied to an account.
Who will this affect?
The changes that are being proposed will affect working-age households with the following characteristics:
Households with non-dependant adults living in the property
Households with savings of between £6,000 and £16,000
Households in receipt of the second adult rebate (also known as Alternative Maximum Council Tax Reduction)
