Decision details

RESOLVED that plans to consult with major preceptors and the public on proposals to introduce a new working-age Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the year 2020-21 be approved.

It is recommended that the Council maintain overall support at current levels and that the following key features of our current scheme be retained:

o   Maintain maximum support at 100%

o   Maintain an Exceptional Hardship Scheme

o   Continue to award 100% support to passported claims

o   Disregard disability related benefits when calculating income

o   Disregard child benefit and child maintenance when calculating income

o   Disregard War disablement/widows pension when calculating income

o   Limit the no. of dependent children in the calculation to a maximum of two for all new claimants

o   Apply the minimum income floor for self-employed claimants

o   Capital limit of £6,000

o   Allow for childcare costs

It is recommended that the following additional features are included in the new scheme:

o   Disregard Carers Allowance when calculating income

o   Disregard Employment and Support Allowance (support element) when calculating income

o   Replace current variable earnings disregard with a standard £25 disregard for all

o   Incorporate a Return to Work Incentive for Universal Credit claimants and others by paying support for a period of one month beyond the return to work date.

o   Apply the current two dependent children limit used in the calculation to existing claimants

o   Remove non-dependent deductions from the scheme

o   Disregard payments made under the Windrush Compensation Scheme, We Love Manchester Emergency Fund and similar Government funded compensation schemes

o   Reduction to be awarded from the date of change as opposed to the ‘Monday following’ the date of change

o   Remove the requirement for good cause to be proven before backdating the award.

o   Increase the 1 month back-date time limit to 12 months.

o   Remove the restriction that limits support to maximum Band D property.