Minister Announces Council Tax Support Will Continue
6 Jun 2014 04:07 PM
The Welsh Government
will continue to protect vulnerable and low income households by maintaining
entitlements to Council Tax Support for a further two years Local Government
and Government Business Minister, Lesley Griffiths AM announced
In 2013, the Welsh Government
developed new arrangements to assist vulnerable households in meeting their
Council Tax liability, after the UK Government abolished Council Tax Benefit
and cut funding for replacement schemes. A Council Tax Reduction Scheme has
since protected Welsh households, and this decision confirms continuation of
this support.
The Minister
said
”Protecting the most
vulnerable individuals in Wales is a top priority for this Government. This is
why we took action to maintain entitlements to Council Tax Support in Wales
despite a significant shortfall in funding.
“Whilst the Welsh
Government has provided an additional £22 million to fund the scheme in
2013-14 and 2014-15, it has protected around 320,000 households across Wales, I
am pleased it will continue for at least two more years.
“This will help to offset
some of the impacts of welfare reform in Wales. Contrast this to England, where
over two million low-income households are paying more of their Council Tax
bill following the abolition of Council Tax Benefit.
“The Welsh Government is
committed to doing all it can to protect low income and vulnerable households.
My decision means around 320,000 households in Wales will continue to be
protected from increased Council Tax bills and over 200,000 will continue to
pay no Council Tax at all.”
Links
Council Tax Support