Huge rise in Wiltshire households claiming Council Tax support
One charity's warning more people could help in the coming months.
Government figures show there were 17,789 working age residents in Wiltshire applying for discounts or exemptions on their council tax in the three months to June 2020.
That's up 25% on the same period last year and the highest number since comparable records began in 2015-16.
However, Wiltshire Council had set up a scheme to allow households to defer their council tax payments during this time, due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Council Tax Reduction Scheme gives households on lower incomes some help with their council tax bills.
It replaced the national Council Tax Benefit in 2013, with local authorities now having the power to decide who's eligible.
TURN2US REACTION
Anti-poverty charity Turn2Us is concerned that more households will need to seek support in the coming months, as the long term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is felt.
They've warned that more families will be in 'financially precarious positions'.
David Sansom from the charity says the systems should be more standardised across the country:
"It was good that the Government gave the £500 million hardship fund that councils could spend on reducing the council tax bill during the pandemic.
"However, there are still anomalies in the system in terms of people in some areas still having to pay quite a lot towards their bill, even though they're getting council tax support."
Wiltshire Council earned £99.4 million through council tax in the three months to June, according to the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government.
That's up nearly £2 million from the same period in 2019.
Richard Watts, of the Local Government Association, said a rise in claims for council tax support was expected during the coronavirus crisis:
"Councils are facing increased cost and demand pressures at the same time as experiencing a significant drop in income.
"The funding already received from the Government has been a positive step and recognises the crucial role councils have played in keeping the country going throughout the pandemic."