WIREDGOV

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans is urging people to check if they are entitled to help to pay their council tax bill as a flagship support scheme is extended.

As part of its pledge to make council tax fairer, the Welsh Government is working to improve take-up of its council tax reduction scheme, which provides support for almost 300,000 households in Wales with their council tax bills.

You may be entitled to pay less council tax if:

• you believe you live on a low income
• you live alone, or with people/children who do not pay council tax
• you are a student
• you are disabled
• you are severely mentally impaired

The Welsh Government has joined forces with local authorities, MoneySavingExpert.com and third sector organisations to develop simple and consistent advice to ensure all households in Wales have the information they need about their entitlements to support them to pay their council tax bill.

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans yesterday said:

“Ensuring every household in Wales receives the council tax support they are entitled to is an important part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to making council tax fairer.

“Local authorities are taking some innovative action to identify and target eligible households and we will ensure this good practice is shared and adopted throughout Wales.

“There are many discounts, reductions and exemptions available and I would encourage everyone to check the Welsh Government website to see if they could be paying less council tax.”

The Welsh Government is committed to exempting care leavers under 25 from paying council tax from 1 April 2019, subject to the necessary regulations being approved by the National Assembly.