Council tax increase hits pensioners
The average council tax bill in Britain has risen by 121 per cent since 1993/94, according to research from Halifax – and pensioners are feeling the strain.
The figure, which is for all households, exceeds the estimated 82 per cent increase in average net income, including council tax benefit, for pensioners over the period.
In addition, the research also found that council tax bills have risen more than average in areas with the most pensioners. In the 20 English Local Authorities (LAs) with the highest proportion of pensioners the average bill has increased by 149 per cent.
Tim Crawford, group economist at Halifax, said: “The government provides help for many pensioner households to pay council tax through the council tax benefit scheme, which is administered by local authorities.
“An additional one-off payment is also available for eligible households this year through the Department for Work and Pensions. Unfortunately, these are means tested schemes and many pensioners will not benefit from them.”
A Help the Aged spokeswoman said: “These figures show just how unfair council tax is in its present form.
“The government should urgently reform council tax so that bills are based on ability to pay instead of on the value of homes in which older people live.”
Lib Dem local government spokeswoman Sarah Teather said: “We already have the spectre of pensioners going to jail over this tax – how much more proof do the Government need of social injustice before they act?”
Chichester recorded the fastest increase, up 173 per cent from £456 to £1,244.
