A more generous Council Tax Support Scheme will help hundreds of households

More than 600 of East Hampshire’s most disadvantaged households are set to have more £280,000 taken off their Council Tax bills.

The proposed changes by East Hampshire District Council to its Council Tax Support Scheme come as the council steps up its work to help people struggling with the increasing cost of living.

The new, more generous scheme will see more people pay zero Council Tax, more people eligible for a reduction and will allow people to earn more before it affects their Council Tax Support.

The scheme will go to Full Council in January and, if approved, it will be implemented ahead of next year’s council tax bills in April 2023.

Cllr Julie Butler, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement, said: “This is really good news and it comes at just the right time for many families who are finding it tough to cope with the soaring cost of living.

“Thanks to this scheme more people than ever before would receive some sort of support with their Council Tax, putting money in the pockets of some of our most vulnerable residents.

“Our Council Tax Support was already one of the most generous schemes around, but these proposals take it one step further.

“I am so pleased we have been able to find a way to help more than 600 local households to the tune of around £280,000.”

The scheme will offer help in four ways.

• Currently we disregard the first £20 of a couple’s earnings every week, and £10 of a single person’s earnings. We are raising this to £70 and £35 respectively.

• We will completely remove non-dependant deductions – that means if you have anyone over the age of 18 living at home (for example an adult son or daughter), their earnings will not affect your Council Tax Support

• We will increase the amount of savings you can have before it affects your Council Tax Support from £6,000 to £10,000

• Backdated support will be easier to claim and you can backdate it further