Council leaders suggest not changing the tax relief for benefit claimants

Herefordshire Council leaders tonight recommended not changing the county’s tax relief scheme for working and pension age claimants.

There are around 11,000 council tax bill payers in the county who receive the local authority’s tax reduction scheme – more than 50% of these are pensioners

Council tax charges can be reduced where the bill payer meets certain set criteria.

The pensioner scheme is set nationally while working age scheme is set locally by the county council.

The current scheme was initially approved by council on December 18, 2015.

Council officers say the current scheme has been reviewed and there is no evidence to support a change at this time.