Council tax relief for Rotherham residents announced

RESIDENTS set to be hardest hit financially by the pandemic will receive £200 off their council tax bill, RMBC has announced.

The amount — higher than the Government’s £150 suggestion — will go to existing and new recipients of council tax support.

Cllr Saghir Alam, the council’s cabinet member for finance, said: “On top of concerns about the health of loved ones, people are facing the added burden of worries about finances.

“After reviewing the available funding, we are able to go further than the national guidelines suggest.

“Some claimants will have their council tax bill for the coming year cancelled all together.

“Hopefully this helps to take concerns about council tax bills away from some of those residents who are already facing the biggest financial worries.”

The discount is expected to be applied to the bills of more than 13,000 working age household claimaints of council tax support in Rotherham, plus households now eligible because the income has been severely impacted.

Where bills are less than £200, these will be reduced to zero.

Rotherham Council said the scheme would be reviewed at the end of May to determine if changes are required.

Details can be found at www.rotherham.gov.uk/hardshipfund.