Another tough year ahead for pensioners facing inflation-busting Council Tax bills

28/01/2008

Pensioners face a tough year ahead, following another inflation-busting rise in Council Tax of 4%.

Responding to the survey from the Local Government Association which revealed an average Council Tax increase among 102 local councils and other authorities of around 4%, Anna Pearson, policy manager at Help the Aged said: "This is going to be a tough year for many older people, with ever increasing costs of living combined with Council Tax bills that continue to rise.  Local authorities and central Government must do all they can ensure that the 2 million pensioners who are entitled to help with Council Tax actually receive it. 

"It would be a good start if Ministers could ensure that Council Tax Benefit was renamed Council Tax Rebate to reflect what it actually is.  And yet again, Help the Aged calls on ministers to make payment of this and other benefits automatic to secure higher levels of take-up and to combat the scar of pensioner poverty. 
 
"The irony is that while Council Tax takes more and more money from older people's pockets, the services many of them rely on are consistently being cut back.  Many vulnerable pensioners can expect to see reductions in social care provision this year, as well as funding being withdrawn from other vital local services."