A total of 45,898 households in Birmingham will receive updated council tax bills from this week showing reductions in payments totalling more than £6.5 million. Using money from the Government’s Council Tax Hardship Fund, Birmingham City Council has applied a £150 discount to the annual bills of all households in receipt of Council Tax Support.
The automatic relief will be reflected in revised bills stating any outstanding balance for the rest of the 2020/ 2021 year and will include a postponement in remaining payments until the autumn. The relief will be automatically applied to eligible households and any direct debit payments will be frozen and amended to the new amount and payment dates, which will be stated in the letter.
Throughout the 2020/21 financial year, everyone who receives Council Tax Support will have the discount applied to their bill. Since lockdown began, the council has received a surge in claims for people seeking Council Tax Support with up to 500 additional applications per week. For more information on financial support available to residents visit www.birmingham.gov.uk and search ‘support for residents’.
Cllr Brigid Jones, Deputy Leader for Birmingham City Council, said:
“In recognition of the financial strain that COVID-19 has had on individuals who have been impacted by the economic lockdown, we have been given £17 million to support our most vulnerable residents.
“The Council Tax Hardship Fund will automatically apply a £150 relief to any households currently claiming Council Tax Support to ease the pressure. What’s more, as a council we have introduced a payment holiday for these households, so they do not need to start paying any outstanding balance until the autumn onwards. Hopefully this will ease some of the pressure during these difficult times.”