2. Halton Borough Council
Peter McCann
Janis Scott
Revenues & Benefits
Halton Borough Council

3. Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit
Benefits Express
Welfare Rights/Money Advice
Council Tax Discounts & Exemptions

4. Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit
4m claimants of HB
£69.98 average weekly payment
5m claimants of CTB
£14.27 average weekly payment

5. Take up
HB (caseload) is between 83-88%
HB (expenditure) is between 87-92%
People with small amounts not claiming

6. Council Tax Benefit
Big push nationally on under claiming
Just completed a targeted campaign
Last month CTB £112k and HB £42k

7. Reason for not claiming
Guaranteed Pension Credit not claiming HB
Previous refusal
Too complex
Didn’t know about the scheme

8. Benefit Express Drop in basis Free benefits health check
Don’t need appointments
Gained additional £458k in welfare benefits
£577k money advice
Other services
Internet
Bus passes
Fire safety check
Library sign up

9. These Benefits are of right
It is complex but we will sort it for you
Fill in form
Call in at Halton Direct Link
Call in on Benefits Express
Ring us

10. Home Visits
People who are not able to get to an office or want to see someone face to face
Contact

11. Welfare Rights
Council offers a comprehensive welfare rights and money advice service
Free & confidential
Form completion through to appeal
Last year gained additional £2.9m
Managed £850k of debt advice
Contact

12. Council Tax Discounts Full charge assumes 2 adults resident
If only one adult resident 25% discount (18,700)
If no residents 50% discount
Discounts can also apply if 2 or more residents
When counting number of adults resident certain people not included

13. Council Tax
Discounts
Exemptions
Reliefs

14. For example:-
3 adults live in property
1 qualifies as severely mentally impaired
1 qualifies as their carer
Only 1 adult is included therefore 25% discount
2 adults live in property
0 adults included therefore 50% discount

15. 18 and entitled to child benefit
full time students
student nurses
apprentices
youth training trainees
people in residential care homes
severely mentally impaired
carers and certain care workers
people in prison
members of religious communities
overseas forces and diplomats
people in certain hostels or night shelters

16. Properties occupied solely by students, under 18’s or the severely mentally impaired (who would otherwise be liable for Council Tax) get 100% exemption.

17. Exemptions Exemptions available on certain empty properties
unfurnished – up to 6 months
require structural alteration/major repair – 12 months
left empty by person in prison
left empty by person moved to receive care
left empty by person moved to provide care
left empty by student who was liable for the tax
person died and property is empty – 6 months after probate
repossessed property
property that is responsibility of bankrupt’s trustee
prohibited by law
awaiting occupation by minister of religion

18. Disablement Relief
If a property adapted to meet requirements of a disabled person may qualify for a reduction
If you meet 1 of 3 qualifying criteria the Council Tax will be reduced to the lower valuation band
If already in Band A may still qualify for a reduction of 1/9th of Band D charge (2008/09 £142.00)
A visit is made to property to ascertain if the qualifying criteria are met

19. More information
If you would like to apply for a discount/exemption or find out more about the discounts available please contact us:-
Halton Direct Link
Council’s website
Telephone Contact Centre on
Benefit Express