Ensuring fairness on council discounts
WAVENEY residents who are incorrectly claiming a 'single occupier' discount on their council tax are being given the opportunity to update their details before a comprehensive data matching exercise begins.
WAVENEY residents who are incorrectly claiming a 'single occupier' discount on their council tax are being given the opportunity to update their details before a comprehensive data matching exercise begins.
Around 17,900 households in the Waveney area receive the 25pc single occupier reduction, which last year amounted to a total of more than �4.8m in discounts.
In early April, the council will be comparing its council tax data with other sources of information, to identify cases where this discount is being claimed inappropriately.
Terri Lawson, Waveney District Council's revenues manager said: “We believe that most council tax discounts are being claimed honestly and legitimately and meet the need they are intended for. We also know that when circumstances change, people sometimes forget to tell us that their eligibility for the discount has ended.
You may also want to watch:
“The system must be fair for everyone and whilst we work hard to ensure those who qualify for discounts or exemptions receive them, we are also obliged to ensure that others do not benefit by withholding information.”
It is a statutory requirement for council tax payers to inform the council within 28 days if they think they no longer qualify for the discount.
Most Read
- 1 Homelessness charity set to reopen popular shop
- 2 Further walk-in vaccination clinics being held across Norfolk and Waveney
- 3 Can you match a nurse's daily step count?
- 4 Closing coastal footbridge will have 'devastating' impact, pub owner says
- 5 Suspected drink driver charged after police dog tracks down man hiding in a ditch
- 6 University joy for Lowestoft Sixth Form students
- 7 'World’s highest qualified merchant seamen' dies aged 62
- 8 Funeral arrangements for Prince Philip confirmed
- 9 Elections 2021: Framlingham and Beccles by-election candidates published
- 10 Thieves target boats on Broads and local rivers
The council can charge a penalty of �70 for those who do not do this, but it is offering an amnesty until Tuesday, April 6.
Customers that update their eligibility details before this date will not be charged the penalty and their address will be removed from the data matching process.
Householders wishing to discuss their circumstances can contact the billing team on 01502 523534 or by calling in person at any of the council offices.
