This consultation is now closed - thank you for your feedback.
Council tax benefit is a means tested benefit that helps people with low or no income to pay their council tax.
The government has announced that council tax benefit is to be removed from April 2013. This is a government decision and we have not had any involvement in this.
Councils are required to provide a local scheme, called council tax support. The funding to this local scheme will be reduced and therefore you will have to pay more towards your council tax.
This change will not affect pensioners. Pensioners will move onto the new scheme, but the government has decided that they will be protected and will not have their entitlement reduced.
What is being proposed from 1 April 2013
The scheme rules for the council tax support scheme will be the same as those for council tax benefit
Working age council tax benefit awards will be reduced by a set percentage. This is currently proposed to be between 10% and 20% (this percentage may increase in future years if there are further pressures on the money available in the fund)
No change to council tax benefit calculation for pensioners (legislative requirement – no local discretion)
Reduction to 0% of the council tax discount for second home owners (currently 10%)
Reduction of some of the council tax exemptions for empty properties
During August and September we asked you for your views on how Hounslow should provide council tax support to those customers who need it.
The majority of Hounslow residents receiving council tax benefit at the moment will be affected by the new CTS scheme.
Face to face
As well as having your say online we gave you the chance to talk to us face-to-face at various venues in the borough:
Feltham shopping centre (near Carphone Warehouse) - Fri 10 August from 10am to 2pm
Civic Centre, Hounslow - Thu 16 August from 2pm to 4pm
St Giles Hotel Heathrow, Feltham - Wed 22 August from 11am to 1pm
Brentford Library - Thu 6 September from 10am to 2pm
Hounslow Treaty Centre - Tue 11 September from 9.30am to 4pm
Civic Centre, Hounslow - Somalian Community - 7 September
Civic Centre, Hounslow - Carers Forum - 7 September
Heftra Conference, Civic Centre - 8 September
Hounslow Homes Forum, Central area - 10 September
Hounslow Homes Forum - East area - 12 September
Hounslow Homes Forum - West area - 13 September