MARTIN Lewis has warned hundreds of thousands of Brits that they might face paying tons of of kilos extra on their council tax payments.
The Cash Saving Professional spoke out amid reviews the Labour Social gathering authorities may axe the 25 per cent single-person low cost.
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Martin warned on X: “Stories out that the govt. hasn’t dominated out ending the 25 per cent single particular person council tax low cost.
“Clearly this could be a painful hit for single adults and single father or mother households.”
Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out the change when requested about it throughout Prime Minister’s questions on Wednesday, saying he wouldn’t “pre-empt the funds.”
Cash whizz Martin additionally questioned whether or not these with Extreme Medical Impairments might be affected in the event that they lived with one other grownup.
And the monetary skilled claimed that any substantial council tax adjustments shouldn’t be completed till a re-banding is full with as much as 400,000 properties within the mistaken band.
Scrapping the 25 per cent single-person council tax low cost would save the general public purse £3 billion a yr, in accordance with the Institute for Fiscal Research.
It cuts round £543 per yr from the typical Band D council tax invoice in 2024-25.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to notice that any resolution to axe council tax reductions remains to be speculative at this stage.
Any adjustments introduced within the funds would even be unlikely to return in right away.
The present low cost is out there to households with one grownup particular person dwelling inside, or a family with one single grownup and others who do not rely as having to pay council tax.
This implies if somebody is severely mentally impaired, a carer, in hospital, a care residence or hostel, has one other most important residence, or is a pupil, youth trainee or apprentice.
For instance, if one single grownup lives with a pupil, they’ll get 25 per cent off their council tax.
The 25 per cent single particular person low cost additionally applies to widows dwelling alone after a companion.
Given the present common Band D council tax invoice in England for 2024-25 is £2,171, scrapping the 25 per cent low cost could be price £542.75 a yr.
It comes with hundreds of thousands of pensioners set to lose out on the winter gasoline fee after the Authorities confirmed it might grow to be means-tested.
Assist you will get paying your council tax
It isn’t simply single folks, because it stands, who can get a reduction on their council tax.
It’s also possible to get cash off the precedence invoice in the event you meet different standards, together with in case you are a family of scholars.
In the event you stay in family with a carer you may rise up to 50% off and generally if your private home is present process main restore work too.
There are a number of different methods you will get a reduction:
Retirees
Pensioners also can get a council tax low cost, together with these on the Assure Credit score factor of Pension Credit score who can get 100% off.
If not, you would nonetheless get assist in case you have a low revenue and fewer than £16,000 in financial savings.
And naturally, in case you are a pensioner dwelling alone however not on the Assure Credit score factor of Pension Credit score, you may nonetheless get 25% off.
Low-income households
Low-income households or these on advantages also can apply for a discount on their council tax.
Whether or not you might be eligible is determined by the place you reside.
You possibly can additionally get a deferral in the event you’re struggling to pay your invoice, or you may communicate to your council about establishing a fee plan to handle the associated fee.
If somebody has died
In the event you’re promoting a property as a result of the proprietor has died, you don’t pay council tax till after probate is granted, so long as the home stays empty.
After probate, you would possibly be capable of get a six-month exemption, so long as the property stays empty and possession hasn’t modified arms.
Learn how to problem your council tax band
In the event you suppose your private home is within the mistaken Council Tax band, then you definately’ll want to put a proper problem.
Contact the Valuation Workplace Company (VOA) in England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors Affiliation (SAA) in Scotland to do that.
Collect collectively proof exhibiting you are paying extra – this might be having addresses of comparable properties to yours in a decrease band, for instance.
If the VOA agrees that your property is within the mistaken band, it’s going to contact you to let you understand your band can be modified.
It will possibly take as much as two months for the VOA to assessment your case.
However be warned – difficult your band won’t work.
When you may get moved to a decrease band and pay much less, there’s additionally the prospect the VOA may discover you are not paying sufficient.
This might imply you are moved to the next band – and your neighbours too.
In the event you disagree with the VOA’s ruling, you could possibly enchantment your case – however provided that you’ve got informed this can be potential once you get the choice.
It’s essential to enchantment inside three months of your resolution – to do that, get in contact with the Valuation Tribunal Service.
If the Valuation Tribunal agrees with you, it’s going to get the VOA to alter your band – and your invoice will change.
Different council tax invoice assist
In the event you’re not eligible for a council tax low cost or cannot transfer bands, there are another choices.
Part 13A aid
You may make an software for what is named “discretionary aid” to your council tax invoice by filling out a Part 13A software.
All native authorities will need to have a Part 13A scheme the place an individual can request for his or her council tax to be decreased or written off.
However you’ll more than likely must show you might be in monetary hardship and all different avenues to get cash off the invoice have been explored.
You may request a Part 13A type out of your native council.
When you’ve despatched it to your native authority, you ought to be informed a few resolution inside 14 days.
Council tax incapacity discount scheme
You will get your invoice slashed in the event you or somebody in your house is classed as “considerably and completely disabled” and one of many following applies:
- there is a room within the property which is used to satisfy your wants (resembling for the needs of dialysis or the storage of well being tools)
- there is a second toilet or kitchen designed to satisfy your wants
- there’s sufficient house in your house to permit wheelchair entry
If the above standards is met, your council tax invoice is decreased to the subsequent lowest band.