Council Tax, Business Rates and other services
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Council Tax, Business Rates and other services 2015/2016 www.bolton.gov.uk
Contents Leader’s message
Leader’s message 3
Welcome to this latest guide to council tax,
How your money is spent 4 business rates and the council’s budget.
Your council tax 5 It explains how council tax is raised, where the council’s
Your business rates 9 budget comes from, and how money is spent on
providing services for you. You will also find advice
Your information 13 about what to do if you need help with paying your bill
Financial information 14 or with your rent.
Are you entitled to benefits? 16 As you may be aware from reports in the press the
council needs to find a further £43m of savings by
Free school meals and clothing grants 19
2017. The government recently announced how much
Do it online Back page money it will give to the council for 2015/16 and
suggested how much this would be in the coming years.
This grant from the government is around 35% of the council’s budget while council
Contact us...
tax is 44%. The council is now able to keep up to half of the business rates it collects
in the borough with the remainder going to central government
Unlike other organisations the council can’t borrow to fund its budget so we need to
For further information about details in this booklet, please contact the following offices: balance how much we spend with how much we get in.
Council tax Information that we keep about you The recent Council budget meeting has put forward a series of proposals to meet this
Tel: 01204 331599 Email: freedomofinfo@bolton.gov.uk budget shortfall. But we have taken the decision not to raise the rate of Council Tax
Email: council.tax@bolton.gov.uk Write to: Corporate Information Manager, this year, but find the money from other means.
Write to: PO Box 32, Bolton BL1 1RX Bolton Council, 1st Floor, Town Hall,
Bolton BL1 1RU Despite the challenging economic situation the council is able to use one off money to
Business rates improve Bolton town centre and other areas.
Tel: 01204 331730 For Council Tax Support Fraud
Email: business.rates@bolton.gov.uk (CTS) only The choices which we have to make in order to find this level of savings are very
Write to: PO Box 32, Bolton BL1 1RX Tel: 01204 331590 difficult but the council remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable children
Email: housing.benefit@bolton.gov.uk and adults; and supporting the local economy.
Benefits, free school meals and Write to: PO Box 4,
school clothing allowances Town Hall, Bolton BL1 1RX
Tel: 01204 331590 Councillor Cliff Morris
Email: housing.benefit@bolton.gov.uk National benefit fraud hotline Leader of the Council
Write to: PO Box 4, Bolton BL1 1RX (not including CTS fraud)
Tel: 0800 854 440.
Write to: NBFH, PO Box 224,
Preston PR1 1GP
www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud
Alternatively, you can visit our website www.bolton.gov.uk
2 3
How your money is spent Your council tax
No one likes receiving a bill, but it helps if • Housing benefits Council tax bands
you know how your money is being spent. • Planning and building control The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for setting the bands which are based
Bolton Council collects your bin of course, • Community centres and youth centres on property values at 1 April 1991. Your council tax bill shows which band your
but did you know that the council also • Helping to regenerate Bolton property is in.
provides a wide range of other services
that we all rely on throughout our lives? Part of the council tax you pay also goes
to Greater Manchester Police and the
Here are some of the services that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Council tax charge 2015/16 and valuation band ranges
your council tax and business rates Authority to help pay for the police and
contributes to: fire services. Some money is also paid Band Bolton Blackrod Horwich West’ton
• Emptying your bins out to other organisations such as the Charge Charge Charge Charge
• Recycling Passenger Transport Authority to help
• Keeping Bolton’s streets clean pay for public transport. A £40,000 or less £990.99 £1,010.84 £1,008.46 £1,001.62
• Maintaining and repairing roads and B £40,001 to £52,000 £1,156.17 £1,179.32 £1,176.56 £1,168.58
bridges There is more information on how
C £52,001 to £68,000 £1,321.33 £1,347.79 £1,344.63 £1,335.51
• Providing libraries and art galleries your money is spent on pages 14
• Leisure facilities including swimming and 15 of this booklet. D £68,001 to £88,000 £1,486.50 £1,516.27 £1,512.71 £1,502.45
pools, sports centres and parks E £88,001 to £120,000 £1,816.82 £1,853.21 £1,848.85 £1,836.31
• Caring for children, the elderly and Where does the council’s money
F £120,001 to £160,000 £2,147.16 £2,190.16 £2,185.02 £2,170.20
other vulnerable people come from?
• Children’s services, such as schools, Bolton Council’s net budget requirement G £160,001 to £320,000 £2,477.49 £2,527.11 £2,521.17 £2,504.07
children’s centres, before and after for 2015/16 is £206m. Out of this £72m H £320,001 or more £2,973.00 £3,032.54 £3,025.42 £3,004.90
school clubs and youth services or 35% comes from central government
• Traffic management and road safety in the form of grants. Your council tax
• Making sure that consumers are contributes £90m or 44% and your
protected against dangerous goods business rates contribute £44m or 21%
• Registering births, deaths and of the available money we have to spend Banding appeals Please note
marriages on services. If you think your band may be wrong, you You must continue to pay your council tax
can ask the Valuation Office to review it: bill while you have any banding query or
appeal pending with the Valuation Office.
Manchester Valuation Office
17th Floor Portland Tower Further information is available at
Portland Street, Manchester M1 3LD www.voa.gov.uk
Tel: 03000 501501
Email: ctnorth@voa.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.voa.gov.uk
4 5Your council tax continued...
Scam alert is counted then a 25% discount can be for the council tax on the main dwelling. a period of up to 3 months, so there will
Trading Standards advise caution if you claimed Please contact the council tax office for be no charge.
receive a call from anyone saying you are • If none of the adults living at your further details if you think you may be
in the wrong council tax band or you are address are counted then a 50% entitled to this discount. After 3 months and up to 6 months –
entitled to a refund of council tax. The discount can be claimed and in some if the property remains unoccupied and
caller will charge a fee and some have cases an exemption may apply - see Reductions for people with unfurnished a 25% discount will be given
given misleading information including Exemptions for occupied properties disabilities so the council tax charge will be 75% of
false claims that: • If you have a second home that is If there is a room, extra space or an the full charge for the property.
• They are from the council or other provided under a contract of additional bathroom or kitchen in your
official body employment then a 50% discount can property that is needed by a disabled After 6 months and up to 2 years – if
• They are working with the police be claimed person who lives there, you may get a the property remains unoccupied and
• It will cost you more to challenge your reduction in your council tax. This unfurnished no discount will be given so
tax band on your own Adults who are not counted reduction is the equivalent of your band the full council tax charge will payable for
• The council or VOA will not help you Here are examples of people who are not being reduced to the one below, or by a the property.
counted: sixth if your property is in a band A.
Remember that: • Full-time students, student nurses, After 2 years – when the property has
• Nobody can guarantee you a lower apprentices and those people under 25 Exemptions for occupied properties been unoccupied and unfurnished for 2
council tax band on youth training schemes • Occupied only by people under 18 years then a 50% premium will be
• The vast majority of bandings are • People permanently resident in hospital • Occupied only by people who are full- payable on top of the full charge. This will
correct or in care homes time students or student nurses mean that a 150% charge will be payable.
• It’s free to challenge or enquire about • People who are severely mentally • Occupied only by people who are
your council tax band impaired severely mentally impaired However, the 50% premium should not
• These companies do little more than • Carers - people living with and caring • Where the property is part of another be charged on any property that:
what you can do for yourself for free for someone who is not their spouse, property and a dependant relative lives • Would be the sole or main residence of
partner or child under 18 in it, such as a ‘granny flat’ or annex. a person in the armed forces who is
If you think you have been misled, • 18 or 19 year olds who are still at posted away from home; or
report it to Trading Standards school or college or have just left Unoccupied properties • Is an annex to a property that is being
on 03454 040506. • 18 year olds for whom child benefit is used as part of the main residence of
still being paid Second homes and properties which the main dwelling.
Charge appeals • Members of religious communities, are unoccupied and furnished
If you think that either you or your such as monks or nuns There is no discount on these properties Please contact the council tax office if
property should not be subject to a • People staying in hostels or night whilst they remain furnished. This means your property falls into either of these
council tax charge, you may appeal to the shelters that a full (100%) charge will be payable. categories so that we can cancel any
council tax office. • People in prison or detention (except premium that you have been charged.
those in prison for non-payment of Unoccupied and unfurnished
Discounts for occupied properties council tax or a fine) properties Unoccupied and unfurnished
If you have already been awarded a The following discounts and charges apply properties that are undergoing or
discount it will show on your bill. Discount for annexes based on when your property first became requiring major repairs or alterations
• If you are the only adult (over 18) living This is a 50% discount for annexes unoccupied and unfurnished: Where a property requires or is
at your address, you can claim a 25% that are either being used as part of the undergoing major repairs or structural
discount off your bill main residence or are occupied by The first 3 months – a 100% discount alterations, a discount of 100% for up to
• If only one adult living at your address relatives of the person who is responsible will be given from the date of vacation for 12 months can be claimed.
6 7Your council tax continued... Your business rates
Unoccupied properties that are Changes in circumstances Business rates The valuation officer may alter the value if
exempt Please note: You must inform the The non-domestic rates, or business circumstances change. You (and certain
• Properties owned by a charity are council tax office, within 21 days, of any rates, are the way that those who occupy others who have an interest in the property)
exempt for up to six months from changes that affect your charge or your non-domestic property contribute can appeal against the value if you believe
vacation providing that when they were right to a discount, reduction or towards the cost of local services. Under it is wrong. The Government has
last occupied they were being used for exemption. If you fail to do this you may the business rates retention arrangements announced there will be limits on the
the purpose of the charity. be required to pay a penalty of £70. introduced from 1 April 2013, authorities backdating of changes to rating
• Properties left empty by someone who keep a proportion of the business rates assessments with effect from 1 April 2015.
is a permanent resident in a hospital, Paying your council tax paid locally. This provides a direct financial If the Valuation Office Agency receive your
residential or nursing home or in You have the choice of paying your incentive for authorities to work with local appeal on or after 1 April 2015 then the
prison/detention council tax over 10 or 12 months. businesses to create a favourable local earliest they can back date any changes is
• Properties left empty by someone who We also offer other alternatives such as environment for growth since authorities that date. The billing authority can only
has left to receive care from another weekly, fortnightly and lunar monthly (i.e. will benefit from growth in business rates back-date any business rates rebate to
person every 4 weeks) instalments by direct revenues. The money, together with that same date. You will continue to have
• Properties left empty by someone debit, these can be set up on our website revenue from council tax payers, revenue your full legal rights to appeal your rating
providing care for another person or by telephone. support grant provided by the assessment.
• Properties left empty that were last Government and certain other sums, is
occupied by a full-time student who is Please contact the council tax office, used to pay for the services provided by The Valuation Office Agency will continue
the owner or leaseholder within 14 days of receiving your bill, if you your local authority and other local to fulfil their legal obligations to alter rating
• Properties left empty because someone wish to change the frequency or method authorities in your area. Further assessments if new information comes to
has died are exempt where probate has of paying your instalments. information about the business rates light indicating the valuation is inaccurate.
yet to be made and for up to six system, including transitional and other Any alterations they make on or after
months after probate has been granted Problems paying reliefs, may be obtained at www.gov.uk 1 April 2016 can only be backdated to
• Properties left empty because they If you are having problems paying your 1 April 2015.
have been repossessed or are the council tax, please contact us as soon as Rateable value
responsibility of a trustee in bankruptcy possible. We are able to make special Apart from properties that are exempt Further information about the grounds on
• Properties left empty because arrangements if you are having financial from business rates, each non-domestic which appeals may be made and the
occupation is not allowed by law difficulties. property has a rateable value which is set process for doing so can be found on the
• Properties waiting to be occupied by a by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), an www.gov.uk website or obtained from
minister of religion If you don’t contact us or pay on time, agency of Her Majesty’s Revenue and your local valuation office.
further action will be taken which may Customs. Their full list of all rateable
Discretionary Reduction Scheme lead to additional costs being added to values is available on their website at National non-domestic rating multiplier
Discretionary reductions to council tax can your account. www.voa.gov.uk/government/organis The council works out the business rates
be made if you can show you need extra ations/valuation-office-agency. The bill by multiplying the rateable value of the
help or you are affected by changes to the Further information can be found on our rateable value of your property is shown property by the appropriate multiplier.
council tax support scheme or the website on the council tax - problems on the front of your bill. This broadly There are two multipliers; the standard
additional charges for unoccupied paying page. Alternatively, contact details represents the yearly rent the property non-domestic rating multiplier and the
properties. Please contact the council tax for the council tax office can be found on could have been let for on the open small business non-domestic rating
office if you wish to discuss this. page 2 of this booklet. market on a particular date. For the multiplier. The former is higher to pay for
revaluation that came into effect on 1st small business rate relief. The government
April 2010, this date was set as 1st April sets the multipliers for each financial year
2008. for the whole of England, according to
formulae set by legislation.
8 9Your business rates continued...
Between revaluations, the multipliers 2017 has no effect on the total amount of authority has discretion in certain cases to However, the Government has introduced
change each year in line with the Retail revenue raised from business rates. award relief in respect of the unoccupied additional support to small businesses.
Price Index in September of the previous part. Full details can be obtained from the For those businesses that take on an
year and to take account of the cost of Empty properties business rates office. additional property which would normally
small business rate relief. The calculation Business rates will not be payable in the have meant the loss of small business
of the multipliers has taken account of the first three months that a property is Small business rate relief rate relief, the Government has confirmed
Government’s decision in the Autumn empty. This is extended to six months in Ratepayers who are not entitled to that they will be allowed to keep that relief
Statement 2014 to cap the inflation the case of certain industrial properties. another mandatory relief or are liable for for a period of 12 months.
increase to 2% in 2015-16. The current After this period, rates are payable in full unoccupied property rates and occupy a
multipliers are shown on the front of your unless the unoccupied property rate has property with a rateable value of less than An application for Small Business Rate
bill. been reduced by the government by £18,000 will have their bills calculated Relief is not always required. If you think
order. In most cases, the unoccupied using the lower small business non- that you meet the eligibility criteria and
Business Rates Instalments property rate is zero for properties owned domestic rating multiplier. you have not received the relief then
Payment of business rates is usually over by charities and community amateur contact the business rates office.
10 monthly instalments. However, you sports clubs. In addition, there are a In addition, if the sole or main property is Provided the ratepayer continues to
can ask for your instalments to be spread number of exemptions from the shown on the rating list with a rateable satisfy the conditions for relief which apply
over 12 months to help with cash flow. If unoccupied property rate. Full details on value of £12,000 or below, the ratepayer at the relevant time as regards the
you wish to take this up this offer, please exemptions can be obtained from the will receive a percentage reduction in their property and the ratepayer, they will
contact the business rates office. business rates office. If the unoccupied rates bill for this property. The maximum automatically continue to receive relief in
property rate for the financial year has reduction is 50% for a property with a each new valuation period.
Revaluation 2017 been reduced by order, it will be shown rateable value of not more than £6,000.
All rateable values are reassessed at a on the front of your bill. The Government has announced, in the Certain changes in circumstances will
general revaluation to ensure bills paid by Autumn Statement 2014, that the need to be notified to the local authority
any one ratepayer reflect changes over The Government has introduced a new doubling of the usual level of relief - to a by the ratepayer (other changes will be
time in the value of their property relative temporary measure for unoccupied new maximum of 100% - will continue for a picked up by the local authority). The
to others. This helps maintain fairness in builds from October 2013. Unoccupied further year, until 31st March 2016. changes which must be notified are:
the rating system by updating valuations new builds will be exempt from (a) the ratepayer taking up occupation of
in line with changes in the market. The unoccupied property rates for up to 18 This reduction/relief is available to an additional property, and
current rating list is based on the 2010 months (up to state aid limits) where the ratepayers who occupy either: (b) an increase in the rateable value of a
revaluation. The Government has property comes on to the list between (a) one property, or property occupied by the ratepayer in an
confirmed that the next revaluation will 1 October 2013 and 30 September 2016. (b) one main property and other additional area other than the area of the local
take place in 2017 based on rental values The 18 month period includes the initial 3 properties providing those additional authority which granted the relief.
at 1 April 2015. More information on or 6 month exemption and so properties properties each have a rateable value of
revaluation 2017 can be found at: may, if unoccupied, be exempt from non- less than £2,600. Full details on the eligibility criteria and on
www.gov.uk/government/organisatio domestic rates for up to an extra 15 or how to apply for this relief are available
ns/valuation-office-agency 12 months. The rateable value of the property from the business rates office.
mentioned in (a), or the aggregate rateable
In the year of revaluation the multipliers Partly occupied property relief value of all the properties mentioned in (b), Charity and Community Amateur
are rebased to account for overall A ratepayer is liable for the full non- must be under £18,000 on each day for Sports Club (CASC) relief
changes to total rateable value and to domestic rate whether a property is which relief is being sought. If the rateable Charities and registered CASCs are
ensure that the revaluation does not raise wholly occupied or only partly occupied. value, or aggregate rateable value, entitled to 80% relief where the property
extra money for Government. Similarly, However, where a property is partly increases above those levels, relief will is occupied by the charity or the club, and
the change in the revaluation date to occupied for a short time, the local cease from the day of the increase. is wholly or mainly used for the charitable
10 11Your business rates continued... Your information
purposes of the charity (or of that and the De Minimis Regulations EC Data protection To find out more about the council’s
other charities), or for the purposes of the 1407/2013. The De Minimis Regulations In order to operate efficiently, Bolton commitment and how we process your
club (or of that and other CASCs). allow an undertaking to receive up to Council has to collect and use information personal data and keep it secure visit the
The local authority has discretion to give €200,000 ‘de minimis’ aid over a rolling about people we provide services to, and councils website www.bolton.gov.uk,
further relief on the remaining bill. Full three year period. If you are receiving, or others we have contact with. These may email: freedomofinfo@bolton.gov.uk
details can be obtained from the business have received, any ‘de minimis’ aid include members of the public, current, or contact:
rates office. granted during the current or two
past and prospective employees, clients Corporate Information Manager,
previous financial years (from any source),
and customers, and suppliers. We may Corporate Information Unit,
Retail Discounts you should inform the local authority
share information you provide to us, such Bolton Council, 1st Floor,
The Government is giving funding to local immediately with details of the aid
authorities so that they can provide a received. as council tax and benefits data, within Town Hall, Bolton BL1 1US
discount worth up to £1,000 a year, in the council and with government bodies
2014-15 and up to £1,500 in 2015-16, to Hardship relief and other authorities, where it is For more information about data
retail premises with a rateable value of up The local authority has discretion to give necessary and the law allows it, to ensure protection contact:
to £50,000. This will provide support to hardship relief in specific circumstances. better service delivery, and to meet legal Information Commissioner’s Office,
premises including pubs, cafes, Full details can be obtained from the obligations. Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
restaurants and shops. business rates office. Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
This personal information must be Tel: 01625 545745
The Government is also giving funding to Rating advisers handled and dealt with properly, however Website: www.ico.gov.uk
local authorities so that they can provide Ratepayers do not have to be it is collected, recorded and used, and
a 50% discount for 18 months for those represented in discussions about their whether it be on paper, in computer
businesses that move into retail premises rateable value or their rates bill. Appeals records or recorded by any other means,
that have been empty for a year or more. against rateable values can be made free and there are safeguards within the
This is available for businesses which of charge. However, ratepayers who do council to ensure this.
move into empty premises between wish to be represented should be aware
1 April 2014 and 31 March 2016. Full that members of the Royal Institution of Bolton Council regards the lawful and
details can be obtained from the business Chartered Surveyors (RICS – website: correct treatment of personal information
rates office. www.rics.org) and the Institute of as very important to its successful
Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV – operations and to maintaining confidence
Local Discounts website: www.irrv.net) are qualified and between the council and those with
Local authorities have a general power to are regulated by rules of professional
whom it carries out business. The council
grant discretionary local discounts. Full conduct designed to protect the public
will ensure that it treats personal
details can be obtained from the business from misconduct. Before you employ a
information lawfully and correctly.
rates office. rating adviser, you should check that they
have the necessary knowledge and
State Aid expertise, as well as appropriate Bolton Council promises to process your
The award of such discounts is indemnity insurance. Take great care and, personal data in accordance with the
considered likely to amount to state aid. if necessary, seek further advice before Data Protection Act 1998 and other
However it will be state aid compliant entering into any contract. relevant legislation.
where it is provided in accordance with
12 13Financial information
How the council tax has changed £m Reasons for the decrease in Bolton’s net budget requirement
2014-15 Band D council tax £1,486.50 Inflation pressures
Equivalent number of Band D properties 69,162
£m £m
Band D council tax multiplied by number of properties equals:
Adult Services 1.7
Children’s Services 0.9
Total council tax levy 2014-15 102.8
Environmental Services 0.5
Gross Net budget Change from
Expenditure 2015-16 2014-15 Development and Regeneration 0.3
2015-16 net budget requirement £m £m £m
Housing 0.1
Adult Services 113.5 72.8 2.9 Central including transport and waste disposal levies 0.3
Children’s Services 305.6 53.3 1.1 Capital financing 0.0
Environmental Services 79.4 28.6 0.7 Total 3.8
Development and Regeneration 13.3 13.4 0.3
Housing 6.7 2.4 0.1 Demand pressures
Central including transport and 196.6 62.2 0.6
Adult Services 1.2
waste disposal levies
Children’s Services 0.2
Capital financing 11.6 11.6 0.0
Environmental Services 0.2
Savings -23.6 -23.6 -23.6
Development and Regeneration 0.0
703.1 220.7 Housing 0.0
Total decrease in net budget requirement -17.9 Central including transport and waste disposal levies 0.3
2015-16 External finance Capital financing 0.0
Revenue support grant and business rates top up 72.4 -19.8 Total 1.9
Retained business rates 43.5 1.6
Collection Fund Surplus 0.5 0.0 Inflation and demand pressures 5.7
Savings -23.6
Total decrease in external finance 116.4 18.2 Total decrease -17.9
Precept for Bolton Council 89.6 1.0 Precept Band D
equivalent
Other precepts council tax
Greater Manchester Police Authority 10.7 0.2 Parish precepts - an additional charge for 2015-16:
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority 4.0 0.0 Blackrod 53,858 29.77
Total increase in precepts 1.2 Horwich 185,836 26.21
Westhoughton 130,750 15.95
Total council tax levy 2015-16 104.3
For comparison the 2014-15 parish precepts were:
Equivalent number of Band D properties Blackrod 49,900 28.24
Total council tax levy by number of properties equals: 70,176 Horwich 185,386 26.64
Westhoughton 129,049 15.95
Band D council tax 2015-16 1,486.50
14 15Are you entitled to benefits?
Local Council Tax Support page 2) or you can get a personalised Electronic Payment are ignored until you reach your LHA
You can apply for Council Tax Support if calculation using the online calculator at If you receive housing benefit or local anniversary date.
you are in receipt of state benefits and also www.bolton.gov.uk/benefitscalculator housing allowance and are currently paid
if you are on a low income. by cheque you can ask for payments to be For more information please see the
Discretionary Housing Payments made directly into your bank account. housing benefits pages on our website
If you pay council tax why not find out if Discretionary housing payments can top www.bolton.gov.uk
you can get a reduction based on your up benefit awards. They are awarded for The main advantages of receiving
circumstances? You can get a limited periods and are for people who electronic payments are: Under occupancy in social housing
personalised calculation using the online already get housing benefit or local • They are processed quicker than In April 2013 there were changes to the
calculator at www.bolton.gov.uk/ housing allowance who are struggling cheques way your housing benefit is calculated if
benefitscalculator financially. If you need an application form • They are available to withdraw on the you live in accommodation rented to you
please see our website at day your bank receives it by a local authority, registered housing
Housing Benefit / Local Housing www.bolton.gov.uk • There are no delays waiting for post association or other registered social
Allowance (LHA) to arrive or travelling to the bank to landlord.
If you rent your home, you may be able to Discretionary Council Tax deposit the cheque
claim housing benefit to help with your Reduction Scheme • It reduces risk of loss, late payments A 14% reduction will be made to your
rent. However, if you live in privately rented A discretionary reduction may be awarded or theft eligible rent if you under occupy your
property you will need to claim local where you are struggling to pay your home by one bedroom and a 25%
housing allowance. There is more Council Tax. Anyone can apply whether To make the change to electronic reduction for two bedrooms or more. The
information about local housing allowance you are in receipt of benefits or working. payment, see page 2 for contact details. new rules will allow you one bedroom for:
on our website at www.bolton.gov.uk The scheme is designed to offer short • every adult couple (married or
term help to those customers who are The Welfare Reform Act has unmarried)
Savings and capital up to £6,000 (£10,000 struggling financially. Every application will introduced a number of changes • any other adult aged 16 or over
for those of pension age) are ignored, be considered individually, if you wish to which will affect housing benefit and • any two children of the same sex aged
anything above this could affect apply for this, please complete the council tax benefit. under 16
entitlement to benefit, and if you have over application form available on our website • any two children aged under 10
£16,000 you will not normally qualify. at www.bolton.gov.uk Local Housing Allowance (LHA) • any other child (other than a foster child
from April 2013 or child whose main home is elsewhere)
When calculating council tax support, Home visits From 1 January 2013, customers will no • a carer (or team of carers) who do not
housing benefit and local housing The Benefits Service has a dedicated team longer have a LHA anniversary date. This live with you but provide you or your
allowance, we look at your circumstances who can visit people in their own homes. change means that all LHA claims will be partner with overnight care
which may include: A visiting service is provided to: reviewed on 1 April each year (or the first
• Your income • Residents over the age of 60 Monday following this date if your rent is There are certain circumstances where the
• Your savings and capital • Residents with a disability charged weekly). size limit rules will not be applied:
• The size of your home • Residents who are vulnerable • State pension credit age – If you are
• The amount of your rent Increases and decreases in rent for over state pension credit age or have a
• Other people who live with you The team offer advice on and complete LHA customers partner over state pension credit age
application forms on a range of benefits, From April 2013 we will be able to revise • Temporary accommodation – If you
If you are not sure if you will qualify, either to find out more contact us (see page 2) if your LHA amount if you have a change to have been accepted as homeless under
contact the housing benefit service (see you would like to request a home visit. your rent. At present, changes to your rent homelessness legislation of the Housing
16 17Are you entitled to benefits? Free school meals and
continued... clothing allowance
Act 1996 and placed in temporary the benefit cap. To use this tool you will What are free school meals? How much School Clothing
accommodation by the local authority need to know the weekly award for each They are school dinners for children Allowance will I get?
• Shared ownership – If you part benefit or allowance that you and any between the ages of 4 and 16 who attend The amount you may receive depends on
own/part rent your home member of your household receives full time school. They may also be awarded which school year the child is in. For year
• Supported “exempt” to some children outside this age range 7 children it is £30.00 and for year 9 it is
accommodation – If you live in a Other welfare benefit changes who attend full time school or nursery. £25.00.
property run by housing associations or
charities which provide care/support or Personal Independence Payments What is School Clothing Allowance? Please note that these are not
supervision. As part of the Governments wider welfare It is a benefit paid to help meet the cost of payable in respect of children who
reform, Personal Independence Payment essential school clothing for children who attend private schools.
For more information please see the (PIP) has replaced Disability Living attend full time school in years 7 and 9.
housing benefits pages on our website Allowance (DLA) for people who were From September 2014 the Government
www.bolton.gov.uk Do I qualify? has confirmed that all pupils in
aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013 or reach
To qualify you or your partner must be Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state
age 16 after that date. This was initially for
getting one of the following: funded schools will be eligible to have a
Household benefit cap new claims only.
• Income Support free school meal. This will be called a
In September 2013 the Government put a
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance Universal Free School Meal.
limit on the total amount of benefit that To find out more and access the PIP • Income Related Employment and
working age people can receive. checker please visit www.gov.uk/dla- Support Allowance Is your family accessing your free
This means that households claiming out disability-living-allowance- • Guarantee element of Pension Credit childcare entitlement?
of work benefits will no longer receive benefit/how-to-claim • Support under part VI of the
more in benefits than the average wage Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 All three and four year olds are entitled
paid to those who are working. Universal Credit • Child Tax Credit only (without Working to a free childcare place. Some two year
Universal Credit has already been rolled Tax Credit) and have an annual income olds can also access a place but they
Total benefit payable will be limited to a out in the Northwest of England and there of less than £16,190. must meet the national eligibility criteria.
maximum of £500 each week for couples are a limited number of customers who • Universal Credit
and lone parents and £350 for single are eligible to claim. This rollout will Free places are for up to 15 hours a
people, though entitlement to certain continue during 2016 and the DWP What evidence is required and how week during school term time (38 weeks
other benefits may exempt you from the website will be able to provide more do I apply? a year) or a maximum of 570 hours over
household benefit cap. information as to those people affected. You need to provide an up to date 50 weeks. This is flexible to meet your
document showing that you are getting needs.
Local authorities will be responsible for The rollout means that new claims to one of the above qualifying benefits.
applying the household benefit cap to existing benefits, which Universal Credit is For more information on free childcare
new and existing claims, through housing replacing, will then cease, with the vast You do not need to make a separate claim places, to find out whether you are
benefit reductions. majority of claimants moving onto if you are already getting or have applied eligible, or to find out about local
Universal Credit during 2016 and 2017. for Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit childcare providers, please visit
For more information please see the or Free School Meals. We will use the www.bolton.gov.uk or ring 01204
housing benefits pages on our website information and evidence you have already 332170.
www.bolton.gov.uk, where there is a link provided to confirm your entitlement. For
for you to use to see if you are affected by more information contact the housing
benefit service (see page 2).
18 19Do it online… www.bolton.gov.uk/doitonline
For the services included in this booklet, here’s what you can now do online on
our website:
Council tax • Request assistance to challenge or
• Make payments appeal a benefit decision
• Register to view your account online - • Request help under the local welfare
see bills, other notices, payments and provision scheme
balances • Landlords can view tenant’s details
• Set up or amend a direct debit online (where housing benefit is paid
• Request e-billing direct) - see notifications, payment
• Search for a council tax band details and export payment schedules.
• Report a change of address • Landlords can report a tenant moving
• Download application forms for in or out
discounts and exemptions
Business rates
Benefits • Make payments
• Check whether you are entitled to • Register to view your account online -
housing benefit or council tax support see bills, other notices, payments and
and make a claim online balances
• Register to view your account online - • Set up or amend a direct debit
see notifications, details of claims and • Request e-billing
payment amounts • Search for rateable values
• Report a change in circumstances
• Make payments for housing benefit You can also find further information and
overpayments forms on the Council Tax, Business
• Request a form Rates and Benefits pages on our
website.
Large print, interpretation, text only
and audio formats of this document
can be arranged on request.
Tel: 01204 333333
Email: council.tax@bolton.gov.uk
Web: www.bolton.gov.uk
Published March 2015 by Bolton CouncilYou can also read
