Page 200 - tmp

the Government has given less funding than it currently costs. In Enfield, the shortfall in funding is
over £4m a year.

Despite this funding shortfall, Enfield Council has agreed a new local Council Tax Support Scheme
based on the previous national benefit scheme with some amendments. Details of the new scheme
are available on our website, www.enfield.gov.uk/counciltaxonline.

Your Council Tax Support award has been based on this new scheme.

How Council Tax Support is worked out
Council Tax Support is worked out using the information supplied in your previous Council Tax
Benefit claim and the amount of Council Tax expected for the property you live in.

We start with looking at if you are eligible for any discounts, such as single person discount. We
then turn your remaining amount of council tax into a weekly amount.

Pensioners, war widows of working age, and those receiving war disability payments will continue
to be eligible for Council Tax Support for up to 100% of the Council Tax that you have to pay. For
the remaining working age claims (aged up to 65) you can receive a maximum benefit of up to
80.5% of council tax due.
Claimants receiving the following benefits will automatically give you the full award less any
deductions for non-dependents (other adults living with you):
- Income Support,
- Guaranteed Credit
- Income based job seekers allowance
- Income related employment and support allowance

This means that if you are working age and not in a protected group, you will get 80.5% of your
council tax as a benefit. If you are a pensioner or protected, you will get 100%.

For all other claims we look at your total income, any savings that you have and deduct from that a
recommended allowance that you need to live on depending on your circumstances and family
make-up.

For every £1 that your total income is over the recommended allowance we deduct 20p from the
weekly maximum amount of Council Tax Support you can receive. The amount left is the Council
Tax Support we give you each week.

All weekly amounts are then worked out for the year and paid to your Council Tax Account. You will
receive a bill setting out what contribution, if any, you are expected to pay towards Council Tax. See
the back of the Council Tax bill which for information on how we can calculate your contribution.

Your sincerely

Enfield Benefits Service

19

Page 2 of 3