00:00So our new research shows nearly half of older people on low income across the UK are missing out on
00:06the council tax reduction they're eligible for.
00:09That could be because they're not aware it exists. It could be that they may be intimidated by the form
00:14filling process.
00:15But obviously, that's too many missing out. And in the northeast, it's about 200,000 people.
00:20So it's a really significant number not getting this money, which they're entitled to.
00:24I think for a lot of the people that we support at independent age, they just don't know that this
00:29reduction exists.
00:30So there's different discounts you can get off your council tax, one of which is called the single person discount.
00:36So if you live alone, you can get 20 percent off your council tax bill.
00:39And a lot of people assume that's the only discount.
00:42But council tax reduction is a completely separate discount.
00:46And it's for older people who live on a low income.
00:49So, for example, they might be getting pension credits.
00:51And if they do get pension credit, they will be automatically eligible.
00:54And it can take their council tax bill down to nothing.
00:58And the average council tax bill in this country is about two and a half thousand pounds a year.
01:02So it's a really significant saving for the older people that we support.
01:06So at independent age, the first thing we want to see is everybody who's eligible for council tax reduction receive
01:12it.
01:12And of course, that could be awareness campaigns, making sure people know that they could step forward.
01:17But it's also about local authority and national government looking at what they can do.
01:22So are there ways that data could talk more effectively to itself so that we can get more people this
01:28money automatically?
01:29Or is there funding that would support local authorities, many of whom are really struggling financially at the moment?
01:35And what sort of real world consequences are pensioners facing if they do miss out on this support?
01:41So at independent age, we speak to people who are past state pension age.
01:45And at that point, many people are no longer able to work.
01:48And the people that we speak to specifically live in financial hardship.
01:51So when they call us, they might be making decisions around cutting back on the water that they use.
01:56We've spoken to people who are washing in cold water, no longer having baths, restricting the amount of showers that
02:02they have.
02:03Energy is a big one. So people no longer using their cooker and turning the lights off, even when it's
02:09getting dark early and people cutting back on food.
02:12These are the daily struggles that the people we speak to face.
02:16And the fact that they could be having their council tax bill reduced to zero seems appalling that nearly half
02:22of them aren't getting that reduction that they should be.
02:25And what would you say, if there are people who aren't sure if they can apply for it or how
02:30to apply for it, what are the basic simple first steps people should be taking to look into this?
02:35I would always advise contacting a national charity like Independent Age or Citizens Advice, because we can help you find
02:40out what you are eligible for.
02:42And also, if needed, we can help you fill the forms in.
02:45Or you can go to your council direct and ask them.
02:48If you're receiving pension credit, you should definitely be eligible for council tax reduction.
02:52But there are other routes to get it if you're not getting pension credit, including things like if you receive
02:57housing benefits.
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