FI15166
Request
- Do you have an Exceptional Hardship Council Tax Reduction policy, or a similar named discretionary relief policy that provides for persons who may need additional support on top of Council Tax Support? (yes/no)
- Does the policy support those who are not supported by the existing council tax reduction scheme? (yes/no)
- Please provide a link to the policy.
- Does the policy allow for Council Tax to be written off?
- When considering using Section 13A to remit the Council Tax charge, do you also consider alternative write off methods that would allow the Council to share bad debt with the other preceptors. If so, please detail them.
- How much council tax has been written off under Section 13A each financial year from 2017-2024
- How much council tax has been written off using alternative hardship policies each financial year from 2017-2024.
- If able, please provide a breakdown overview of the primary reasons where the scheme is used for the years 2017-2024? (examples may include victims of domestic violence, referral from money advice service, referral from Housing Support, and ill health.)
Response
1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. https://www.dover.gov.uk/Benefits/Council-Tax-Support/Council-Tax-Support-exceptional-hardship-award.aspx.
4. Discretionary reductions under Section 13A are administered as write offs.
5. No, not currently.
6. As follows:
|
2017/2018
|
£0.00
|
|
2018/2019
|
£711.34
|
|
2019/2020
|
£0.00
|
|
2020/2021
|
£4,395.42
|
|
2021/2022
|
£19,534.24
|
|
2022/2023
|
£23,248.49
|
|
2023/2024
|
£100,762.60
|
7. None as no scheme is in place.
8. There is specific record of primary reasons, each case is reviewed individually but the main cases refer to:
- Victims of domestic violence,
- Ill health of terminal illness
- Severe financial hardship and debt
- Referrals from Debt Advice Agencies i.e. CAB
- Referrals from Housing teams