Road show today about changes to welfare reforms
PEOPLE can find out more about changes to welfare reforms at a road show at Harborough District Council in Adam and Eve Street today.
It is part of a series of road shows across Leicestershire to inform people about changes to Welfare Reforms.
Organised by representatives from the Local District Authorities, County Housing Service Partnership, The Bridge and Citizens Advice Bureau, the events will provide an overview of the Welfare Reform scheme, including the introduction of universal credit, changes to housing benefit, and the localisation of council tax.
The road shows are open to all service providers, as well as members of the public, and will help people to understand the impact of the forthcoming changes and advise about what support is available.
Council Tax Benefit is currently the responsibility of the Government’s Department for Work & Pensions, (DWP) but is administered by the district council.
However, this is set to change from April 2013 and all local authorities are being asked by Central Government to design a ‘Local Council Tax Support Scheme’ themselves to determine the level of discount working age people will receive in the future.
From April 2013, there will be less funding for Harborough District Council under this new scheme which means the Council will have to work within a budget reduced by approximately £351,000.
Whatever happens, benefits to working age claimants will be reduced from April, and the consultation will play a role in establishing how much this could be. None of the options would affect low-income pensioners, as they are not able to work to help support themselves.
Harborough District Council is, therefore, seeking residents’ views on the best way to achieve an affordable scheme that will continue to support the most vulnerable of the community but will also provide value-for-money and protect other services for all our residents.
These Government’s reforms will, however, force the Council to consider changing discounts and exemptions which are currently in place, including reductions for second homes and unoccupied properties.
The public consultation will run until Friday, September 28, 2012, and will be available online at www.harborough.gov.uk/counciltaxreform.
Harborough District Council’s road show is taking place at their offices in Adam and Eve Street today.
For more information contact Andrea Swain at LeicesterShire Citizens Advice Bureau on 01455 200109, or Rebecca Margetts at Blaby District Council on 0116 272 7536.
Anyone wishing to attend a session please get in touch with one of the contacts above.
Residents in the Harborough District are being urged to have their say on how Council Tax support should be provided from April 2013.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
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