Local Council Tax Support - Scheme

Privacy Notice, Other Benefits and Support

Privacy Notice

To learn more about how the Isle of Wight Council will process your personal information in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, please read our Privacy Notice

Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions

There are a number of discounts, exemptions and reductions which can apply depending on the property and your personal circumstances.  View further details on exemptions.

Pension Credit

Pension Credits were introduced by the Government on 6 October 2003.

The aim is to:

• Ensure a minimum guaranteed income for pensioners. 
• Reward people who have modest savings.
• Significantly increase the number of pensioners who receive additional financial help.

The government’s Pension Service administers Pension Credits and deal with:

• Claims.
• Issuing payments.
• Customer contact.  

The new Pension Credit has two parts:

1. Guarantee Credit which replaced Minimum Income Guarantee and depending on your circumstances could still mean entitlement to 100% Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax Support.
2. Savings Credit is a Government allowance for pensioners who are 65 and over to reward them for some of their savings and income they have for their retirement.

The Pension Credit hotline operated by the Government’s Pension Service is telephone: 0845 60 60 265.  Please note: this is not an Isle of Wight Council service.

Personal Independent Payment (PIP)

Personal Independent Payment (PIP) replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working aged people.  PIP went live for new claims nationally from June 2013.

Existing Disability Living Allowance will begin a staggered transfer over to Personal Independent Payment (PIP) from October 2013.  The aim of PIP is to ensure that customers with disabilities are better assessed than how they currently are under DLA.   PIP helps towards some of the extra costs arising from a long term ill-health condition or disability and is based on how a person’s condition affects them, not the condition they have. It is not means-tested or subject to tax and it is payable to people who are both in and out of work.

There are no plans to replace DLA for children under 16 or for DLA recipients who were aged 65 and over on 8 April 2013.

People who will be able to claim a PIP 

For new customers the following basic conditions need to be met: 

• Be over 16 and under 65.
• Not be subject to immigration control and meet residence conditions.
• Satisfy disability conditions.
• Not already getting DLA or being transferred.     
  
                      

  Further information 

  General information on Personal Independence Payment can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website..

  Local Assistance Scheme

  The Council has formed a partnership with Isle Help who will provide a revised Local Assistance Scheme with the help of a successful funding bid from BT.

  The Council has successfully delivered the Local Assistance Scheme for three years, however, following the end of further funding from Central Government, alternative options to extend a provision on the Island were considered.

  The revised scheme (Local Assistance Scheme) will run from 1 May 2016 and be provided by Help Through Crisis (Isle Help).  Details are available on the Isle Help website .

  General Help and Advice 

  Citizens Advice Bureau – The Citizens Advice service offers practical, up-to-date information and advice on a wide range of topics, including; debt, benefits, housing, legal, discrimination, employment, immigration, consumer and other problems.

  Address: Exchange House, St Cross Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5BZ

  Tel: 08444 111 444

  Web:www.citizensadvice.org.uk

  The Law Centre – The Law Centre defend the legal rights of people who cannot afford a lawyer. They deal with a variety of issues including housing repossession, housing eviction, welfare benefits, debts, problems with employers, court procedures, court representation, rent arrears, mortgage arrears, property disrepair and wrongful eviction.

  Address: Exchange House, St Cross Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5BZ

  Tel: 01983 524 715

  Web: www.lawcentres.org.uk

  Hampshire & Isle of Wight Credit Union (United Savings & Loans) – A not-for-profit financial organisation who offer basic bank accounts, savings accounts and low interest loans.

  Web: www.hampshirecreditunion.org/iow

  Tel: 02392 827980

  Front Line Debt Advice – Frontline serves the community by providing expert assistance to those who are disadvantaged by the burden of debt. They also specialise in offering independent, expert benefit advice.

  Address: Parklands, Park Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7LZ

  Tel: 01983 291552

  Web: www.frontlineiow.org

  Money Advice Service – The Money Advice Service helps you manage your money better. Use their Health Check tool, calculators and comparison tables to make the most of your money.

  Tel: 0300 500 5000

  Web: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

  Step Change Debt Charity

  Tel: 0800 138 1111

  Web: www.stepchange.org

  Turn2us – A charitable service which helps people access the money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other help. Their website has been designed to help you find appropriate sources of financial support, quickly and easily, based on your particular needs and circumstances such as disabilities, illnesses and industry related service.

  Tel: 0808 802 2000

  Web: www.turn2us.org.uk

  AgeUK Isle of Wight – Age Concern and Help the Aged are now Age UK. Information and advice for the elderly about benefits, care, age discrimination and computer courses.

  Address: 14 Pyle Street, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1JW

  Tel: 01983 525282

  Web: www.ageuk.org.uk

  Christians Against Poverty - A national charity, working across the UK to lift people out of poverty and debt. They offer free debt counselling and money management courses.

  Address: Jubilee Mill, North Street, Bradford, BD1 4EW

  Tel: 01274 760720

  Web: www.capuk.org