A scheme that reduces the amount of Council Tax paid by the most vulnerable people in South Lakeland is to continue in 2021/22.

A meeting of South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC’s) full council on February 23 backed the continuation of the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which has been in place since 2013.

The scheme continues to offer up to 100% reduction for all eligible residents, supporting people on benefits or low incomes. Last year it helped 4,856 households in South Lakeland, with just under half of recipients being pensioners.

The scheme was introduced as a replacement for the national Council Tax Benefit Scheme, which was abolished in 2013. The old national scheme was paid for by a 100% grant from central government, but this was reduced to 90% when responsibility for the grant was passed to local authorities.

Councillors were also told that SLDC had received £487,092 from government last year to support economically vulnerable people and households in response to COVID-19 to provide council tax relief alongside existing Local Council Tax Support schemes to all working age recipients of Council Tax Reduction during 2020/21.

SLDC increased the maximum support available from £150 to £300, to reduce the net council tax liability of all working age recipients of local council tax support throughout 2020/21.

For more details about the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and information about who qualifies please visit the SLDC website: www.southlakeland.gov.uk