Residents asked for views on Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25
Residents in Boston Borough are being asked to share their views on the council's proposed Council Tax Support Scheme for next year.
The scheme is a way of helping people on low or no income to pay their annual council tax bill. The overall cost of the scheme is around £3.7million with Boston Borough Council supporting around 2,500 working age households.
An online consultation has been launched as each year, the Council must decide whether to change the scheme for applicants who are of working age.
The council is proposing to keep the Council Tax Support scheme the same for 2024/25 as it is now in 2023/24 and is seeking views on whether it should up-rate the scheme for working age claimants in line with the Department for Work and Pensions provisions for Housing Benefit.
This will apply to all Council Tax Support claimants and will keep the local Council Tax Support scheme aligned with national welfare provisions.
The maximum support available to working age applicants is 75 per cent, meaning that all working age households have to pay at least 25 per cent towards their Council Tax.
Pensioners are not affected by any changes made to the local Council Tax Support Scheme as the rules for applicants of pension age continues to be set by Central Government. Pensioners can continue to get up to 100 per cent discount on their Council Tax.
War Disablement Pensioners as well as war widows and war widowers are also protected.
The means-tested scheme allows for vulnerability within the calculation, including people with children, disabilities or caring responsibilities.
The council tax collected by Boston Borough Council goes towards Borough services (and a share to Internal Drainage Boards), Lincolnshire County Council, Police and Crime Commissioner, Parish Councils and BTAC Special Expenses.
Cllr Sandeep Ghosh, Portfolio Holder for Finance at Boston Borough Council, said: "The Council Tax Support Scheme is an opportunity for those of working age who are on a low or no income to get help to cover the majority of their Council Tax bill.
"The Council is proposing to keep the scheme the same for the next financial year and so would mean no major changes to the support a customer would receive.
"Anyone can take part in the consultation on this support programme for next year and I encourage you all to share your views now."
The consultation is live and the closing date for submissions is Friday 17 November, 2023.
To share your views, follow the link BBC CTS Consultation 24-25 (snapsurveys.com)
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