Posters and adverts are urging people to see whether they could be eligible for a reduction in their monthly outgoings. The council’s Benefits team already reduce the Council Tax bill for nearly 16,000 homes and help to cut the rent bill for around 12,000 homes. Applications for benefits are now being made at a rate of 1,000 per month, a 20% increase on the same time last year.
For many people, the Council Tax bill is the second highest monthly bill after a mortgage or rent payment, and in many cases people may not be aware that they are paying too much. The council’s website has a calculator at www.thanet.gov.uk/benefits that people can use to see if they might be entitled to a reduction in the amount they pay.
Cllr. Martin Wise, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “People’s circumstances can change quickly, particularly in the challenging times we’re facing. That’s why the council is taking this opportunity to remind people that they could get help with their Council Tax or rent bills. For example, if one member of your household has been made redundant or had their regular overtime reduced, they could be eligible for help. Equally, they may be self employed and going through a slow period, so it’s worth checking the calculator to see if we can help.
People just need to go on Entitled To website and plug in the numbers.
ReplyDeleteCllr A Ken Gregory passed details of the "Bizz Fizz" Schemes to the appropriate depts at TDC (I think the nearest is Hastings but Thanet would benefits from one) they not only advise but network self employed (esp those who came from benefits into self employment)
You can claim working tax credit based on pre tax profit if it is low enough and also be flexible to take part time PAYE work which does not pay for people on benefits.
I think it is about a month or more since I emailed Ken about this and he passed it on to TDC officers.