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17 March 2005 - Council Tax Information Letter
The following content has been provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and has been addressed to all Local Authorities. A copy of this and past newsletters can be found at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ctil.htm
"Changes Announced in 2005 Budget
Age-Related Payment for 2005/06
In his budget speech yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that council tax paying households with someone aged 65 or over will receive £200 for 2005/06. This payment will be made at the same time as the 2005 winter fuel payment and will be administered by DWP. It will be paid only where someone is not in receipt of pension credit guarantee element as these people are eligible for full council tax benefit.
The £50 announced in the pre- budget report last year will be payable to households with someone aged 70 or over in receipt of pension credit guarantee element, to help with additional living expenses.
This means that someone aged between 65 and 69 will receive up to £200 but only if they are NOT in receipt of pension credit guarantee element. Someone aged 70 or over will get either up to £200 or the £50 payment dependent upon whether they receive pension credit guarantee, but not both.
Other measures announced in the budget will:
- Align the date of claim for Housing Benefit (HB)/Council Tax Benefit (CTB) with other benefits, to allow the date of claim to be taken from the date of first contact;
- Remove an anomaly in CTB where a person on an incomerelated benefit moves in with a student householder. If both of those living in the property lived in separate households, one would be exempt from Council Tax and the other would receive full CTB. Second Adult Rebate rules will be changed to allow up to 100% of Council Tax liability to be met through Second Adult Rebate in specific situations.
The Budget also confirms that the lower capital limit will increase from £3,000 to £6,000 in both HB/CTB and Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance from April 2006.
Valuebill
Valuebill enables the electronic exchange of data between local authority billing agencies, the Valuation Office Agency, and the National Land and Property Gazetteer. The project is now in rollout phase.
We would encourage authorities to take part in Valuebill as it offers significant benefits. Details are in the attached newsletter - Feb/Mar 2005.
The Valuebill website can be found at the following:
Contact
If you have any queries about anything in this letter, please contact Brian Entwistle on 020 7944 4186 or David McDonald on 020 7944 4206 or fax to 7944 4179. Email:council.tax@odpm.gsi.gov.uk"
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