Published: Thursday, 2nd March 2023
Working age and pension age households receiving Council Tax Support during the 2023/2024 council tax year are set to automatically receive a reduction on their council tax bill of up to £50.
In December 2022 the Government announced £100 million of additional funding for local authorities to support households with the higher council tax increases which have been allowed by government for 2023/2024.
The Government has given this authority more than is needed to provide the recommended £25 reduction. The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk is providing a reduction of up to £50. The actual amount credited to eligible accounts will be the lower of £50, or the amount of council tax owed for 2023/2024 from the start date of the Council Tax Support claim.
Anyone qualifying for the grant will get it automatically and will receive an updated council tax bill. The grant shows on the bill as ‘Council Tax Support Fund’. Instalments on any outstanding balance will be recalculated and for accounts that have already been paid, the credit amount will be refunded.
Cllr Stuart Dark, MBE, Leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, said:
"Over 90% of working age households receiving Council Tax Support live in properties in council tax bands A or B. The borough council’s share of the annual council tax bill, excluding the levy for the Internal Drainage Boards, is only £55.06 for a band A property, and £64.24 for a band B property – just 4% of the overall bill. By providing a hardship award of £50, we are able to fully cover the majority of the cost of providing our local services to our residents in the lowest bands."
Council tax bills will start going out over the next week or two, with online bills being received first, and paper bills landing on doormats from the week commencing 6 March.
Further information about council tax bills, discounts and exemptions, budgeting, setting up a direct debit are available online on our Council Tax pages.
Anyone concerned about the cost of living and paying their council tax bill can find more information on our Cost of Living - how the council and others can help pages.
Residents can use the online benefit calculator to see what benefits they may be able to claim: https://west-norfolk.entitledto.co.uk/home/start.