A new Local Council Tax Support Scheme giving disabled residents an automatic discount was approved last night.
Basildon Council ran a public consultation between Monday 18 September and Thursday 2 November asking people living in the borough to have their say on proposals which will leave disabled residents with only 25% of their council tax bill to pay themselves.
The changes were approved at Council last night. It means that any working age household with a disabled person living in it will be able to apply for the full 75% discount via a more streamlined application process. This is considering the disability home care services that these people might need and the effort it takes to care for a loved one in this position. This goes without saying, the cost of it and how this might affect their lives.
Other changes will bring Basildon’s scheme in line with changes made by central Government in relation to housing benefit and bereavement support.
Cllr Gavin Callaghan, Basildon Council’s Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, said: “This simple change means that disabled people and their families, who already face significant extra monthly costs because of their disability, will no longer have to be further scrutinised through a means tested application process. Increasing the level of support available will go some way towards helping them to live more independently in our borough.”
