Have Your Say on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Our Proposed Changes to the Scheme

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1 Have Your Say on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Blackpool Council's local Council Tax Reduction Scheme replaced council tax benefit in Government announced a number of changes to the Housing Benefit Scheme and the Council is proposing a number of changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017/18 to keep it in line with Housing Benefit, ensuring it does not cost the Council more to run. The Council already consulted on changes within the Scheme relating to the Family Premium and backdating in The Council would like to hear what you think of the proposals, any suggestions for how the Scheme is changed and any alternative ways for the Council to make savings if the Scheme does not change. Before completing this survey it is important that you read the background information about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme at to help you understand the detail. The survey will take around 10 minutes to complete. Proposal One - Absence from Great Britain The consultation closes on 16 October Thank you in advance for your feedback. Our Proposed Changes to the Scheme Within the current scheme, applicants can be temporarily absent from their homes for 13 weeks (or 52 weeks in certain cases) without it affecting the Council Tax Reduction. This replicated the rule within Housing Benefit. Housing Benefit has been changed so that if a person is absent from Great Britain for a period of more than four weeks, their benefit will cease. It is proposed that the Council s Council Tax Reduction Scheme is amended to reflect the changes in Housing Benefit. There will be exceptions for certain occupations such as mariners and the armed forces. What this might mean? - The treatment of temporary absence would be brought into line with Housing Benefit. - There are exceptions for certain occupations including the armed forces and mariners. - If a person is absent from Great Britain for a period which is likely to exceed four weeks, their Council Tax Reduction would cease from when they leave the country and they would need to re-apply. Q1 To what extent do you or dis with the proposal to reduce the period for which a person can be absent from Great Britain and still receive Council Tax Reduction to four weeks? Agree Dis dis

2 Q2 Please tell us why you or dis with this proposal. Proposal Two - Support for Work Related Activity From April 2017, all new applicants of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) who fall within the Work Related Activity Group will no longer receive the work related activity component in either their ESA or within the calculation of Housing Benefit. It is proposed that the Council s Council Tax Reduction Scheme is amended to reflect the changes. What this means? - The treatment of ESA would be brought into line with Housing Benefit. - Persons receiving ESA would not experience any reduction in Council Tax Reduction. Q3 To what extent do you or dis with the proposal to reduce the element of a Work Related Activity Component in the calculation of the current scheme for new ESA applicants? Agree Dis dis Q4 Please tell us why you or dis with this proposal. Proposal Three - Dependant Children Within the current scheme, claimants who have children are awarded a dependant s addition of per child within the calculation of their needs (Applicable Amounts). There is no limit to the number of dependant s additions that can be awarded. From April 2017 Central Government will be limiting dependant s additions in Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Tax Credits to a maximum of two. This will only affect households who have a third or subsequent child on or after 1st April It is proposed that the Council s Council Tax Reduction Scheme is amended to reflect the changes in Housing Benefit and Central Government Benefits. There will be exceptions where: there are multiple births after 1st April 2017 (and the household is not already at their maximum of two dependants within the calculation); adopted children or where households merge.

3 What this means? - Council Tax Reduction would be brought into line with Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and Tax Credits. - Claimants who have a third or subsequent child after 1st April 2017 (and are not excepted from the rules) may receive less Council Tax Reduction than claimants who have more children born before 1st April Q5 To what extent do you or dis with the proposal to limit the number of dependant children within the calculation for Council Tax Reduction to a maximum of two? Agree Dis dis Q6 Please tell us why you or dis with this proposal. Proposal Four - Severe Disability Premium Currently when another person is paid Carers Allowance to look after a Council Tax Reduction claimant, then the Severe Disability Premium is not included when working out their needs (Applicable Amounts). The reason for this is that it avoids paying for the same care twice. This proposed change would align the scheme with Housing Benefit by treating persons who receive the Universal Credit (Carers Element) in the same way as anyone receiving Carers Allowance. What this means? - Council Tax Reduction would be brought into line with Housing Benefit. - People receiving Universal Credit (Carers Element) would be treated in the same way as those receiving Carers Allowance who look after any person who claims Council Tax Reduction. Q7 To what extent do you or dis with the proposal to remove entitlement to the Severe Disability Premium where another person is paid Universal Credit (Carers Element) to look after them? Agree Dis dis

4 Q8 Please tell us why you or dis with this proposal. The range of proposals outlined in this section would ensure the Council Tax Reduction Scheme continues to align with the Housing Benefit Scheme. The proposed changes would also aid an efficient / streamlined Scheme. Q9 Overall, to what extent do you or dis with the approach to align the Council Tax Reduction Scheme with the Government's proposed changes to the Housing Benefit Scheme? Agree Dis dis Q10 Please tell us why you or dis. Protecting Vulnerable Groups Currently all working age applicants are required to pay a minimum of 27.11% towards their Council Tax. This equates to a weekly charge of 8.24 for a typical Band D property. The Council is considering giving additional support in some cases, which could include: - Where someone in a household receives Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments - An applicant who is a lone parent and who is responsible and resides with a child under 5 years old - Where the applicant or their partner receives Carer's Allowance - Where the applicant or their partner is in receipt of a war pension, war widows pension, war disablement pension or equivalent What this means? - This proposal is not related to other proposals around aligning the Council Tax Reduction Scheme with Housing Benefit. - It would provide additional support to certain vulnerable groups. - It would help the Council honour the armed forces covenant. - It would increase the overall costs of the Scheme by approximately 0.8 million based on the additional support outlined above.

5 Q11 To what extent do you or dis with the proposal to give additional support to vulnerable groups in the Council Tax Reduction Scheme? Agree Dis dis Q12 Please tell us why you or dis with this proposal. Q13 Are there any other vulnerable groups you feel the Council should consider? Other Suggestions The current Council Tax Reduction Scheme would cost the Council more to run if it does not align with the Government's changes to the Housing Benefit Scheme (also administered by the Council) or if vulnerable groups are provided with additional support. The Council would then need to find savings or increase income in other ways to meet any increased cost. Q14 If the Council does not align the Council Tax Reduction Scheme with Housing Benefit or provides additional support to vulnerable groups, how should any additional costs be found? PLEASE SELECT ALL THAT APPLY Increase the level of Council Tax Change the level of support offered in the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Reduce funding or increase income for other Council services Use the Council's reserves

6 Q15 Do you have any other suggestions for how the Council could make savings or increase income? Q16 Please tell us what impact, if any, any of the proposed changes set out in this consultation might have on you. About You The following questions will be used to understand if different groups of people have been able to take part in the consultation and to find out if different groups of people feel differently about the proposals. This information is completely confidential and anonymous and will not be passed on to any third parties. Q17 What is your home postcode? Q18 Does your household receive Council Tax Reduction? Yes No Q19 Are you...? Male Female Q20 Which age group do you belong to? 18 to to to to to to or over Q21 Do you have any children in the following age groups? PLEASE SELECT ALL THAT APPLY Under 5 5 to to 16 Over 16 Don't have any children

7 The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as: A person has a disability if s/he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Q22 Do you consider yourself to have a disability? Yes No Q23 What best describes your ethnic background? White Black or Black British Asian or Asian British Mixed Ethnicity Other Ethnic Group Q24 Which of these best describes your current situation? PLEASE SELECT ALL THAT APPLY Full-time work Part-time work Self-employed Full-time education Unemployed but available for work Carer Unable to work due to illness/ disability Retired Looking after the home Other Thank you for taking part in this consultation. Please hand your completed survey to a member of staff. The findings from this consultation will be used by the Council to inform any decisions on changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.