Welcome for Wales Council Tax Benefit change

Poverty A pen and calculator resting on paper
NewsJanuary 18th, 2013

The Bevan Foundation has welcomed the Welsh Government announcement that it will make up the shortfall in funding for help with Council Tax.

Responsibility for helping people  with the costs of Council Tax was devolved to Wales last year – along with a 10% cut in funding.  The Welsh Government had previously said it was unable to find the £22 million required to close the gap, resulting in thousands of people who had previously had all their Council Tax paid by the benefit having to pay.  Not only did many fear the hardship it would bring to people on already low incomes, but local authorities were also concerned about having to collect large numbers of relatively small sums.

The announcement follows work by the Bevan Foundation and partners in Cuts Watch Cymru highlighting the severe impact of welfare reforms on many people,. and commentary by Bevan Foundation Director, Victoria Winckler, on our blog that the original decision was inconsistent with the Welsh Government’s general stance on means-testing and protecting vulnerable people.

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