Single Person Discount Review
Walsall Council will shortly be carrying out checks on residents currently receiving a 25% single person discount. The outcome of these checks may result in a mailshot being issued before the end of April 2008 inviting residents to re confirm their circumstances.
Walsall Council is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers and to this end will use information provided by its residents and applicants for the prevention and detection of fraud. The information will also be shared, where applicable with other bodies responsible for auditing or administrating public funds for these purposes.
The council will work with an external agency to confirm whether residents live alone and identify cases where there are two or more adults living in a property, and therefore should not be receiving a discount. The checks can show if more than one resident appears on the records of another government department.
Until now the methods of reviewing discount claims has been difficult and in many cases inconclusive. By utilising the external agency, Walsall Council will be able to confirm where people are genuinely living alone. In cases where there is doubt Walsall Council will investigate further before making a decision.
The council also wants to encourage anyone who is entitled to a single person discount, and is not claiming, to get in touch and see what they are entitled to. The full council tax bill assumes there are two people living at the property and if this is not the case then a reduction may be appropriate.
If you think you are missing out or you need to let us know about changes to your circumstances, please contact the council tax billing team.
Contact us
Council tax billing team
Local Taxation
Po Box23
Walsall
WS1 1TW
Telephone 0845 111 2851
Email counciltax@walsall.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 18 September 2008