Council-tax help for poorest

OLDHAM CABINET: OLDHAM Council is proposing to increase support for its Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2014-15 to help the borough’s poorest people.

In April the council introduced a local scheme to replace council-tax benefit, but funding for the local scheme was 10 per cent less than the old national scheme. The result was that all working-age claimants had to pay something towards their council tax.

Following a consultation programme, cabinet members are recommending the maximum claimant support increases from 75 per cent to 80 per cent of the Band A rate. This would mean an extra £53.33 per year for someone entitled to the maximum. The proposal will be put to full council on December 18.