A FUNDING shortfall has meant that people who currently get help with their council tax could end up having to pay more towards their bills.
Barnsley Council is asking residents for feedback about proposed changes to the council tax support scheme to help it address a £3.6 million shortfall in funding.
The system changed last year, from council tax benefit to a ‘council tax support schemes’.
But funding has been axed by the government - and now the council is trying to find a way to address the shortfall.
At the moment, those who get help with their council tax get up to 85 per cent of it paid for. But
locals have been warned that they could be expected to pay more.
A spokesman said: "We still firmly believe that pensioners should be exempt from facing any increase, but this puts additional financial pressure on working-age claimants – who already pay a minimum of 15 per cent of their council tax.
“The only way we could make the scheme operate without losing money is to ask these people to pay 57 per cent of their council tax. This is clearly too much to ask.
“Sadly though, owing to the government’s continued funding cuts, we do have to consider asking claimants to pay more. We are consulting everyone on a number options starting at keeping it at the current 15 per cent, up to a maximum of 30 per cent contribution.
“I sincerely sympathise with those who will be affected by any increase, but without them, the scheme in its entirety is unsustainable, which would prove more problematic for all claimants in the future.”
People already on the scheme will receive a letter inviting them to take part in a survey, which they can complete and return in the pre-paid envelope or hand it in at any council office.
