Have your say

Council Tax Support Scheme Consultation Document

This Document has been made in an easy read version by Harrow Mencap 020 8868 8484

Why are we consulting?

The Government is planning to take away Council Tax Benefit.

All councils have been asked to make up new schemes.

The Government will give money for the scheme but this money will be less than before.

This means we will not have as much money for the scheme next year and even less over the next few years.

This will make a big difference to the money we can give out.

All our residents will have the chance to have their say about these changes.

We will be asking you your views from Monday 11 June to Friday 21 September 2012 on what the new Council Tax Support Scheme should look like.

This booklet will give you all the information you need.

A questionnaire is included at the back of the booklet, please fill it in and send it back to us by post.

What is Council Tax?

Council Tax is money people give to the council. It is the councils job to collect the money. This money pays for things like, collecting rubbish bins, keeping the streets clean and for education. Some money also goes to the police, fire and public transport services.

What is Council Tax Benefit?

Council Tax Benefit is money given to the council by the government, to help people without much money to pay their Council Tax.

What are the changes to Council Tax Benefit?

Council Tax Benefit will be taken away from next April. Councils will have to make a new scheme that is due to start on 1st April 2013
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There will be no change to the amount pensioners get.

How the new rules affect the most vulnerable must be looked at by the council.

The new scheme must encourage people to go to work.

We want your views

From April 2013 we need to save a lot of money.

People below pension age, who get Council Tax Benefit now will probably have to pay something towards their Council Tax bill.

We want to ask your views on which groups of people the Council should support as a priority.

www.harrow.gov.uk/ctbconsultation

Or telephone:

020 8416 8266

Everybody who is not a pensioner and gets Council Tax Benefit will be affected by the changes. However some may be affected more than others.

These are the people who will be affected.

Families with children

Lone parents

Carers

Full time and part time workers

Disabled people

Single people and childless couples

There are lots of Council Tax Benefit rules that can make a difference the amount of help a person can get.

We need to make sure we give support to our most vulnerable people.

We want to ask your views on which groups you feel will be more affected. This will help us to look at how we can help those most affected.

We have listed below the rules that will help the Council to save the money they need. Some of these rules will have to be used together to help with making the savings needed.

RULES

1. Everybody to pay something towards Council Tax Some people have all of their Council Tax paid. If this was changed and everybody had to pay some money towards Council Tax, this could make all the savings needed.

2. Increase in money paid for Council Tax Some people have to pay a bit of money towards their Council Tax even if they do not have a lot of money. If these people pay a bit more money than they do now, this will make up some of the savings needed. These are often people who are working.

3. Stopping extra help with Council Tax People who work extra hours get some more help with paying their Council Tax. These are people who work full time, disabled people, or single parents who work part time. If this extra help stopped, it would make up some of the savings needed.

4. Include Child Benefit as an Income People with children get Child Benefit (money for their children). This money is not included as money coming in (income). If this money was included, this would make up some of the savings needed.

5. Increase money paid by other adults Some people get less help towards their Council Tax if they have other adults living with them who do not have a lot of money. If the other adults paid more towards Council Tax, this would make up some of the savings needed.

6. Changing the amount of savings a person can have People cannot get help with their Council Tax if they have more than 16,000 saved. If the amount of savings a person was allowed went down, this would make up some of the savings needed.

7. Changing priority with property sizes People can get all of their Council Tax paid in any size house. If a person was only given the amount of help for a smaller house, this would make up some of the savings needed.

8. Stop help for other adults in the household People who have enough money to be able to pay their Council Tax but live with another adult who does not have a lot of money can get help with paying their Council Tax bill. If this help stopped, it would make up some of the savings needed.

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Below are some examples of how these rules could be put together to save the money needed:

Example 1 People would only get up to 75% help with their Council Tax bill. (Rule 1)

Example 2 - Using all of the rules shown under here People would only get up to 80% help with their Council Tax bill. (Rule 1)

Instead of 20%, people would pay 25% of any extra money they have to their Council Tax Bill (Rule 2)

Help would be stopped for people who work longer hours. (Rule3)

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People with more than 6,000 in savings would not get help with paying their Council Tax. (Rule 6)

Example 3 - Using all of the rules shown under here People would only get up to 75% help with their Council Tax bill. (Rule 1)

Other people living in a house would pay more for their Council Tax bill. ( Rule 5)

People with more than 10,000 in savings would not get help with paying their Council Tax. (Rule 6)

This would allow people that worked to keep 10 a week more of what they had earned.
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Example 4 - Using all of the rules shown under here People would only get up to 80% help with their Council Tax bill. (Rule 1)

People with children would have their Child Benefit included in the money that they have. ( Rule 4)

Information on other possible changes can be found on the:

website at: www.harrow.gov.uk/ctbconsultation

or by Telephoning: 020 8416 8266

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Helping you to understand what effect the changes might have Here are some real life situations. These may help you understand what affect the changes might have for different groups of people using the rules.

MR AND MRS V

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1.

Now: Mr and Mrs V do not have any children

Mr V has a disability and gets disability living allowance

Mrs V works 21 hours a week

Mr and Mrs V live in a council house. They get most of their rent paid, but have to pay 3 each week.

Their Council Tax bill is 25.46 each week. They get 24.56 from the council. This means they have to pay 90p each week. ( 3.91 each month)

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How the examples would affect Mr and Mrs V

Example 1 Mr and Mrs V would get 19.57 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 28.34 each month

Example 2 - Mr and Mrs V would get 20.87 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 22.68 each month

Example 3 - Mr and Mrs V would get 19.57 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 28.34 each month

Example 4 - Mr and Mrs V would get 20.87 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 22.68 each month

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MRS W

2. Now

Mrs W is a single parent and has 2 children under 10years

Mrs W works for herself

Mrs W lives in a 2 bedroom flat. She gets most of her rent paid, but she has to pay 20.00 each week.

Her Council Tax bill is 25.46 each week. She gets 20.54 from the council. Mrs W pays 4.92 each week. ( 21.38 each month)

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How the examples would affect Mrs W

Example 1 - Mrs W would get 16.27 from the council each week. Meaning she would pay 42.68 each month

Example 2 Mrs W would get 14.12 from the council each week. Meaning she would pay 52.04 each month

Example 3 Mrs W would get 14.62 from the council each week. Meaning she would pay 49.85 each month

Example 4 Mrs W would get 11.49 from the council each week. Meaning she would pay 63.46 each month

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MR AND MRS S

3. Now

Mr and Mrs S have four children under 12 years

Mr and Mrs S are both disabled

Mr and Mrs S get Income Support

They rent a 3 bedroom house. They get most of their rent paid, but have to pay 5.77 each week

Their Council Tax bill is 35.00 each week. They get 35.00 from the council. This means they pay nothing each month.

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How the examples would affect Mr and Mrs S

Example 1- Mr and Mrs S would get 26.91 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 38.97 each month

Example 2 Mr and Mrs S would get 28.70 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 31.18 each month

Example 3 Mr and Mrs S would get 26.91 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 38.97 each month

Example 4 - Mr and Mrs S would get 28.70 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 31.18 each month

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MR AND MRS N

4. Now

Mr and Mrs N have 2 children under 10 years

Mr N works 35 hours each week. They have an income of 339.11 each week.

They rent a 3 bedroom house. They get most of their rent paid, but have to pay 35.74 each week.

Their Council Tax bill is 28.64 each week. They get 24.74 from the council. Mr and Mrs N pay 3.90 each week. (16.95 each month)

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How the examples would affect Mr and Mrs N

Example 1 Mr and Mrs N would get 20.81 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 37.12 each month

Example 2 Mr and Mrs N would get 17.70 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 50.63 each month

Example 3 Mr and Mrs N would get 22.02 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 31.89 each month

Example 4 Mr and Mrs N would get 15.54 from the council each week. Meaning they would pay 60.03 each month

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MR A

5. Now . Mr A has just lost his job and gets Jobs Seekers Allowance

Mr A has 9,500 saved

Mr A lives on his own in a 1 bedroom flat. He gets most of his rent paid, but has to pay 9.10 each week

His Council Tax bill is 16.71 each week. Mr A gets 13.91 from the council. He pays 2.80 each week. (12.17 each month)

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How the examples would affect Mr A

Example 1 - Mr A would get 10.78 from the council each week. Meaning he would pay 27.56 each month

Example 2 Mr A would get nothing from the council each week. Meaning he would pay all his Council Tax each month

Example 3 Mr A would get 12.84 from the council each week. Meaning he would pay 18.60 each month

Example 4 Mr A would get 11.64 from the council each week. Meaning he would pay 23.84 each month

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How different people will be affected by the different examples

Smaller Families They would pay less money with example 3 They would pay more money with example 2

Larger families They would pay less money with example 2 They would pay more money with example 4

Single parents They would pay less money with example 2 They would pay more money with example 1

Carers They would pay less money with example 1 They would pay more money with example 4

Workers They would pay less money with example 3 They would pay more money with example 4

People with disabilities They would pay less money with example 4 They would pay more money with example 3

Single people They would pay less money with example 4 They would pay more money with example 3.

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How you can give your views?

We will be talking to you from Monday 11 June 2012, through to Friday 21 September 2012.

There are lots of ways you can give us your views.

Questionnaires - You can start by filling in the questionnaire at the back of this booklet.

Road Shows and Go to Days - Please come along and talk to us when we are out, well be around the area at the following times

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Thursday 5th July - 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Town Centre, outside St. Georges Centre, St Anns Road Saturday 14th July - 11.00 am to 5.00 pm - Roxeth Show, Roxeth Recreation Ground, Pitcairns Path, Eastcote Road, South Harrow HA2 8LG Thursday 19th July - 10.00 am to midday - Chandos Childrens Centre, 74-78 Chandos Crescent, Edgware, HA8 6HL Saturday 28th July - 12 noon to 4.00pm - Town Centre, outside the St. Georges Centre, St. Anns Road Tuesday 7th August - 12 noon to 3.00 pm - Wealdstone Library/Red Brick Caf, The Wealdstone Centre, 38/40 High Street, Wealdstone, HA3 7AE Saturday 11th August - 12 noon to 3.00pm Town Centre, outside the St Georges Centre, St Anns Road Saturday 18th August - 12 noon to 4.00pm Rayners Lane, outside Rayners Lane Station

Friday 7th September - 10am to 1.00 pm - Access Harrow, Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow HA1 2XY

Discussion Groups We will be talking to people most affected by the changes.

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Workshops/Meetings We will be working with voluntary groups in the area to make sure users and carers of their services are given the chance to have their say.

Online Visit www.harrow.gov.uk/ctbconsultation where youll find all the information about the consultation, you can also complete the questionnaire online.

Telephone Survey We will be talking to some Council Tax payers, Council Tax Benefit claimants and residents over the telephone to find out their views.

Postal Survey We will be carrying out a postal survey with our Residents Panel.

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Contact us: You can give your views in any of these ways:

Web:

www.harrow.gov.uk/ctbconsultation

Telephone:

020 8416 8266 - Please note there will sometimes be an answer phone on this telephone. Please leave your name and telephone number and we will call you back.

Freepost:

London Borough of Harrow, Freepost, P.O Box 730, Civic Centre, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2DU

Email:

CTBconsultation@harrow.gov.uk

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/lbharrow

Twitter:

www.twitter.com/harrow_council

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How the decisions will be made

When the consultation is finished, the feedback will be put together and given to our partners.

No one will know who the feedback is from. They will make sure your feedback is used when deciding what the new scheme will look like.

There will be a report given to a council meeting in November, where the final decision on what the scheme is going to look like will be made.

We will write a report about the views we have collected and how they have been used. This will be free for you to read if you would like to.

We will write to you personally if you are going to be affected.

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