South Gloucestershire Council is carrying out a review of the Council Tax Single Person Discounts this month.
The council wants to ensure that any council tax relief which is granted, such as 25per cent Single Person Discount, is awarded only to those who are eligible to receive it – and is not paid to any one not entitled because they have someone else living with them aged 18 or over.
Cllr Allan Higgs, executive member for corporate affairs, said: “Making sure that we get the support to those that need it and are eligible to receive it is especially important in the current tough economic times.
“If residents who are currently receiving the single person council tax discount believe their circumstances may have changed, then we strongly urge them to contact us.
“In many cases, residents will simply have forgotten to update us, but we are keen to speak to them before our checks identify them as having circumstances which differ from those recorded on our systems.
“If it turns out that they are no longer eligible to receive the single person council tax discount, then we will advise them of other types of support which may be available to them.”
There are currently 31,000 residents claiming the single person discount and the council will be undertaking a residency check that will enable it to most efficiently identify those residents whose circumstances differ from those recorded on its systems and who may therefore no longer be eligible for the discount.
Residents will then be contacted to check their current circumstances and will be offered advice about other types of support which may be available to them.
Any residents who think they may no longer be entitled to a Council Tax discount are strongly urged to contact South Gloucestershire Council’s Council Tax office on: 01454 868003, e-mailing: counciltax@southglos.gov.uk or write to: Nibley Court, 3 Turner Drive, Westerleigh Business Park, Yate, South Gloucestershire, BS37 5YU.
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
