A consultation is underway by West Lindsey District Council to find the best way to support vulnerable residents as amount of money from central government for council tax benefits is reduced.

The Government has specified pensioners must be protected, and the Conservative-led council has decided to extend this to ensure disabled residents, carers and those receiving war pensions will also have their council tax benefits protected.

Residents are being asked for their views on the proposed Local Council Tax Support Scheme. People can have their say by filling in our questionnaire during an eight week consultation period, which will end on December 12.

A local scheme must be approved by the council by the end of January 2013, in order to avoid a funding gap in council tax benefit of more than £1 million. This total is split between West Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire County Council and Lincolnshire Police Authority. It follows the decision by the Coalition Government to reduce the yearly council tax benefit funding across Great Britain by ten per cent; in part helping to tackle the deficit left by the previous Labout Government.

West Lindsey currently pays benefits to 8,154 claimants but under the new scheme the Government has provided full protection for all pensioners so the changes will only affect 4,189 working aged claimants.

The proposed changes include increasing non-dependent deductions (the amount other people in the household contribute towards the council tax) and restricting the amount of benefit paid to Band C properties. This would mean that claimants living in a Band D property or higher would have their benefit assessed as though they were living in a Band C property.

The new scheme also allows for some council tax exemptions to be adjusted and, in order to bridge the gap, the authority is considering, amongst others, charging one hundered and fifty per cent council tax for properties that have been empty (for more than two years) and reducing the six month exemption period for empty and unoccupied property down to two months before a full charge is made.

Conservative Leader of the council, Councillor Burt Keimach, said:

“This reduction in funding has been passed on from central Government and we have been tasked with trying to find ways to save this money in the way that will have least impact on our residents.

“Every effort will be made to protect vulnerable residents, especially the elderly and those with disabilities.

“Your opinion is important to us and we would urge everyone to complete a questionnaire as the final decision will affect everyone in the district.”

The consultation questionnaire can be found at http://survey.west-lindsey.gov.uk/snap/council_tax.htm and is also available to complete on paper, by requesting a copy, from the council or by calling 01427 676676.

More information on how council tax benefit is changing can be found http://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/residents/council-tax-and-council-bills/council-tax-benefit-is-changing, where residents can also download full details of the proposals.

Residents can also refer to a Frequently Asked Questions section at www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/residents/council-tax-and-council-bills/council-tax-benefit-is-changing/frequently-asked-questions/113683.article

Changes to council tax benefit will take effect from April 2013. The scheme will be reviewed each year to accommodate for changes in need in the district.