Council Tax Benefits
Council Tax Benefits
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An informative look at how the council tax benefits scheme can make a difference to people's lives.
Text Only Version
Voiceover
There are hundreds of people aged over 60 in Tameside who may be missing out on help with their council tax bill. Anyone on low income could qualify for an average cut in their bill of about £200.
And don't worry if you have savings in the bank.
Alan Franco - Head of Welfare Rights, TMBC
There's a lot of misconceptions about having too much savings. I just want to emphasize that the savings level is £16,000. People have mentioned £3000, £6000, £8000, £10,000 but it's £16,000.
Voiceover
A thousand people a week converge on Tameside Council's Customer Services Office in Ashton-under-Lyne. But they reckon as many as 1,200 people aren't applying for the money they're entitled to under the Council tax Benefit Scheme.
At Age Concern Joanne Hughes sees 30 people a day often encouraging them to process an application for financial help.
Joanne Hughes - Information Advice Officer, Age Concern
They remember the times when it was the welfare board where they had to go and beg for money, so it's really really hard, there's a lot of pride with older people as well. It's probably one of the last things they'd think about, so it is difficult
Voiceover
Alan Franco is head of Welfare Rights in Tameside and he tries to spread the word at district assemblies, and one problem he encounters is that people may have applied unsuccessfully in the last 13 years since the Council Tax was introduced.
Alan Franco - Head of Welfare Rights, TMBC
What people might not be aware of is the amount of money gone into the help with council tax over the last 10 years is actually quite considerable. The eligibility levels for council tax benefit are 100% higher now than they were 10 years ago which is much higher than the level of inflation or the level of council tax or pensions.
Voiceover
Take for example a couple in their 70s. They both receive a state pension of £84.25 per week. The husband gets a work pension of £85 per week. So their total income is £253.50 which they thought was too high to qualify for benefit. But they were actually entitled to £226 off their council tax bill.
The application form may look a little daunting but staff like Joanne Hughes are there to guide you through the questions.
Joanne Hughes - Information Advice Officer, Age Concern
We can guide people through the maze. It is difficult but it has got a lot better and application forms have improved over the years, but i suppose it would be very difficult if you were elderly to fill in the form but that's why we hold the surgeries and that's why we're here for them.
Voiceover
With fuel bills rising the benefit is something you must consider, you can even apply for previous years and forms can be submitted at any time.
There are plenty of other activities to occupy Tameside's older generations, but now it could be time for a serious session about your finances. So don't be puzzled it's your money so apply today.
If you have more than £16,000 in savings check if you're entitled to pension credit.
Phone 0800 99 1234
More information is available at:
Ashton Customer Services
Wellington Road OL6 6DL
Denton Customer Services
District Centre (Town Hall), Market Street M34 2AP
Droylsden Customer Services
Droylsden Library, Manchester Road M34 6EP
Dukinfield Customer Services
Dukinfield Library, Concord Way SK16 4DB
Hattersley Customer Services
The Rent Office, Hattersley Road East, Hattersley SK14 3NP
Hyde Customer Services
Town Hall, Market Street SK14 1AL
Longdendale Customer Services
Mottram Library, Broadbottom Road, Mottram SK14 6JA
Mossley Customer Services
Mossley Library, Wyre Street OL5 0EU
Stalybridge Customer Services
Stalybridge Library, Trinity Way SK15 2BN
Tel No: 0800 634 0949