By Christopher Morgan
Residents on lower incomes in Kirklees are being offered Council Tax reductions up to 100 percent during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Government has announced that working-age people on a low income and already receiving a Council Tax reduction may receive a further reduction up to £150 on their annual bill.
Beyond that, Kirklees Council has announced that residents on lower incomes in Kirklees are now entitled to extra support to pay their Council Tax bills on top of this.
The Council has said that they will now be offering Council Tax reductions to households that do not usually qualify for a discount on their Council Tax.
Residents just need to apply online to find out if they are eligible for a discount – each application will be means-tested and based on household income.
As well as that, those already receiving a discount could also be eligible for more or even a 100 percent discount. This will be done automatically – you do not need to apply if you already receive a discount.
Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “These are incredibly difficult times for all of us but for many the coronavirus pandemic has also unfortunately caused financial worries and problems.
“I have had no hesitation in making this decision to help more people and go beyond what the Government is offering by giving up to a 100 percent Council Tax relief to those working-age people most in need”.
Cllr Pandor praised the efforts of the government to help people pay their council tax bill.
He added: “We wanted to build on this further to support those in Kirklees who need help the most.
“In times like these, the last thing I want people to be worried about is their Council Tax bill.
“I promise that we will continue to help residents as much as we possibly can through this pandemic. I hope that this additional support helps to ease the difficulties so many people are facing.”