Option
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Proposed changes
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Consultation overview
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1
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Reducing the maximum level of support for working age applicants from 81.5% to 80% or 75%.
|
57% agreed
Consultation Analysis %
58%
Discrepancy 1%
|
2
|
Removing the Family Premium for all new working age applicants. This will mirror Housing Benefit.
|
46% agreed, while 40% disagreed.
Consultation Analysis %
47%
Discrepancy 1%
|
3
|
Reducing backdated applications to a maximum of 1 month (currently 6 months). This will mirror Housing Benefit.
|
66% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
68%
Discrepancy 2%
|
4
|
Use a set income for self employed earners after 1 year’s work. In order to align Council Tax Reduction with Universal Credit, the Council proposes to use a minimum level of income for those who are self-employed. This would be in line with the National Living Wage for 35 hours worked per week. Any income above this amount would be taken into account based on the actual amount earned. The income would not apply for a designated start-up period of one year from the start of the business.
|
53% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
54%
Discrepancy 1%
|
5
|
Reducing the period for which a person can be absent from Great Britain and still receive Council Tax Reduction to 4 weeks. This will mirror Housing Benefit.
|
81% agreed
Consultation Analysis %
83%
Discrepancy 2%
|
6
|
Reducing the capital limit from the existing £16,000 to £6,000. At present, residents with savings, capital and investments of more than £16,000 are not entitled to any Council Tax Reduction. Under the proposed change; this limit would be reduced to £6,000.
|
56% agreed.
Consultation Analysis%
58%
Discrepancy 2%
|
7
|
To introduce a standard level of non dependant deduction of £10 for all applicants who have non-dependents resident with them. Within the current scheme a deduction is made from Council Tax Reduction for people other than the applicant’s partner who are 18 years old or over, That person would be expected to contribute towards payment of Council Tax. At present the weekly deductions range from £0.00 to £11.45 per week according to weekly income. The deductions would be replaced by £10.00.
|
66% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
68%
Discrepancy 2%
|
8
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To take any Child Maintenance paid to a claimant or partner into account in full in the calculation of Council Tax Reduction. Currently any payments of Child Maintenance paid to either an applicant or their partner does not count when working out their income for Council Tax Reduction. This proposal would allow the Council to include any Child Maintenance in the calculation. This income is not currently recorded by the Council so cases would need to be reviewed.
|
56% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
58%
Discrepancy 2%
|
9
|
To take any Child Benefit paid to a claimant or partner into account in full in the calculation of Council Tax Reduction. Currently any payments of Child Benefit paid to either a claimant or their partner does not count when working out their income for Council Tax Reduction. This proposal would allow the Council to include any Child Benefit in the calculation.
|
54% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
55%
Discrepancy 1%
|
10
|
To restrict the maximum level of Council Tax Reduction payable to the equivalent of a Band D charge. The current Council Tax Reduction scheme uses the full amount of Council Tax charge irrespective of the band of the property. There are eight Council Tax Bands A to H with Band D being the national average. It is proposed that where an applicant lives in a property which is Band E, F, G or H then the Council Tax Reduction will be calculated on the basis of a Band D charge.
|
55% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
56%
Discrepancy 1%
|
11
|
To Remove Second Adult Reduction from the scheme. The current Council Tax Reduction scheme can grant a reduction up to 25% in certain cases where the income of a ‘second adult’ (not the applicant’s partner) who resides with the applicant is unemployed or has a low income, this would be removed as an option for applicants.
|
49% agreed , while 34% disagreed
Consultation Analysis %
50%
Discrepancy 1%
|
12
|
To remove the element of a Work Related Activity Component in the calculation of the current scheme for new Employment and Support Allowance applicants. This will mirror Housing Benefit.
|
55% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
56%
Discrepancy !%
|
13
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To limit the number of dependant children within the calculation for Council Tax Reduction to a maximum of two. This will mirror Housing Benefit.
|
65% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
67%
Discrepancy 2%
|
14
|
To introduce a scheme, in addition to Council Tax Reduction, to help applicants suffering exceptional hardship. The option would introduce a scheme whereby, individual cases would be looked at on their own merit; a scheme would need to be produced should this be agreed. It should be noted that KCC funding details are not known at time of writing and that the Council would look to operate a scheme similar to that of Discretionary Housing Payments that will relate to Council Tax.
|
80% agreed.
Consultation Analysis %
82%
Discrepancy 2%
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