Council Tax benefit
Oxfordshire councils asked for views on a new scheme to help low income households with their Council Tax bill which would come into force during 2013.
As part of the Government’s welfare reforms the current Council Tax benefit scheme will no longer exist in its present form but will be replaced by a locally-run scheme, called the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
From 2013 funds provided by central government will be reduced by around 10 per cent, but all the Oxfordshire district councils, Oxfordshire County Council and the Police Authority are working together to ensure that support provided will continue to protect all claimants in 2013/14 and, from April 2014 a scheme that will protect pensioners and the most vulnerable.
There will therefore be no impact for claimants, in 2013/14.
However from April 2014, Oxfordshire councils may need to make changes to the local scheme in order to meet the 10 per cent grant reduction.
You can read background information about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and the draft scheme itself:
What you told us and what happens next
You can read the results of the online and postal survey below:
The comments received will be used to help finalise the scheme and inform any changes in future years. The final scheme will be agreed by councillors in December 2012.
Further information
If you have any queries about this consultation please contact Kate Prince, Shared Consultation Officer, at haveyoursay@southandvale.gov.uk or telephone 01491 823093 or 01235 547614.
For more general queries about council tax benefit please see the following web pages for South and for Vale.
Consultation closed 5 October 2012
Last reviewed: 14 - 01 - 2013