Council tax: Many Chesterfield pensioners missing out on vital help with bills

Low-income households and pensioners in England can apply for a discount or exemption on their council tax under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

In Chesterfield, 3,976 pensioners were claiming support in the three months to December, Government figures show.

That was a 14 per cent drop compared to the same period in 2015, meaning 642 fewer people were receiving the help.

But Turn2us, a charity which helps people in financial hardship, says vulnerable households are struggling to navigate an increasingly complex and confusing system.

Varuk Kanish, campaigns manager at the charity, said: “The localisation of council tax support schemes has increased the complexity of an already confusing system, resulting in more people missing out.”

“We urge the Government to review this system and consider automatic entitlement for people who are struggling.”

He added that a move towards online services – driven in part by budget pressures – may be impacting older people.

Caroline Abrahams from Age UK, added: “Given that there are two million pensioners in poverty, it is worrying that the numbers claiming council tax support have fallen.

"For those already struggling to meet essential costs, the prospect of this year’s council tax bills arriving soon will be one extra thing to worry about."

Fewer working-age people were also claiming council tax support in Mansfield last year, although the number has fallen less sharply than in the case of pensioners.

Between October and December, 5,515 working-age people claimed a discount on their tax, down from 6,039 in 2015 – a drop of nine per cent.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: "Councils in England will have access to £49.2 billion next year – the biggest annual real-terms increase in spending power in a decade.

"People experiencing difficulty paying their council tax should approach the billing authority to discuss their situation."