Local councils where the Universal Credit ‘Full Service’ has been rolled out say eligible residents are forgetting to claim much-needed financial support with Council Tax, causing them more hardship than the system already creates.
Claimants are reported to be confused because Universal Credit covers a number of benefits, including Housing Benefit and Tax Credits, but not all support falls under UC. Council Tax support or reduction, which has different rules in different parts of the country, must be applied for direct from claimants’ local council.
Adding insult to injury, Citizens Advice research published earlier this year revealed local authorities are the biggest user of bailiffs, passing on 2.1 million debts (in 2014-15), often for unpaid Council Tax arrears.
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