We always welcome a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below. This from C Wallis. Ed
If we cannot look after the vulnerable members within our society, then we are no longer a civilised nation.
Shamefully, from this week Isle of Wight Council joins a small minority and exclusive club of Local Government that charge their disabled residents to live within their boundaries (see detail of who will be affected below). The charge here is 20% of Council Tax. Some charge less, but 20% is the highest.
Discounts on council tax
In order to create a level playing field, I draw to the attention of disabled residents within the Isle of Wight to a little known and never advertised ability of a disabled person to obtain an discount on their Council Tax Band.
This will reduce their valuation to the next band below, and if in Band A, the discount is Band D /9 = (just over £173).
A trip to the Citizen Advice Bureau is advised, as, in my view, it can be devilishly complicated dealing with the Isle of Wight council. There are certain hoops to jump through to obtain the discount.
Yours, C. Wallis
Who will be affected by the changes?
Under the recently approved changes to Council Tax Support Scheme, the following claimants could face a reduction in CTS, as they will be treated the same as all other working age claims (unless they qualify for exceptional hardship):
- Disability Living Allowance Care higher rate.
- Disability Living Allowance Care middle rate.
- Disability Living Allowance Care lower rate.
- Disability Living Allowance mobility.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Employment Support Allowance (support component).
- Severe Disabled Allowance.
- War Widows’ Pension / War Disablement Pensions/Armed Forces Compensation.
- Incapacity Benefit (long term rate).
However, the scheme will continue to protect disabled through the continued granting of additional living allowances:
- Disability Premium.
- Disabled Child Premium.
- Enhanced Disability Premium.
- Severe Disability Premium.
- Dependents additions.
- Disabled Child Premium.
Image: James Petts under CC BY 2.0
