After the successful first stage of its review of households receiving Council Tax Sole Occupier discount, Sefton Council is about to embark on the next step.

Sole Occupier discount gives households where only one person over the age of 18 is living, a 25% discount on the amount of Council Tax they pay.

Letters going to around 11,000 households

NEC will soon be writing to around 11,000 households, where the information provided does not appear to be correct. This is to check whether they are still eligible for the discount.

Households receiving these letters are asked to confirm to NEC in a declaration how many adults aged 18 and over live at the property. The quickest and most convenient way they can do this using a simple online form using the unique access code provided in the letter. They can also make the declaration by phone using the dedicated number provided in the letter. Or they can return the paper form that is included with the letter, to NEC.

Households should complete the declaration, even if they receive a Council Tax Reduction. If they have recently informed the Council of a change meaning they are no longer the only occupier, they do not need to respond to the letter. 

A dedicated 0151 number will be available for anyone who needs help completing the declaration.

Declarations

Any households that, according to their declarations, no longer qualify for the Council Tax Sole Occupier discount, will have their Council Tax account amended. Households that do not respond to the letter may risk the discount being removed.

Anyone whose circumstances have changed, meaning they are now a Sole Occupier, or who thinks they may now qualify for a Council Tax discount, should visit www.sefton.gov.uk/ct-discounts for more information.

Accounts automatically updated

Almost 1,300 households cancelled their discount after being contacted by the Council during the review’s first stage, which ran from August until the end of September. The vast majority made the changes online using the My Account service and their Council Tax accounts were automatically updated.

By making sure that it is billing households correctly through the review, the Council has so far identified over £635,000 that can now be used to support vital local services.

For the review’s second stage, Sefton Council is working with NEC Software Solutions. The company uses credit records to check how many adults might be living in properties claiming Council Tax Sole Occupier discount.

My Account services

Around 20,000 households and businesses in Sefton are now using the secure My Account service to view and manage their Council Tax or Business Rates via smartphone, laptop or desktop computer.

People can sign up for My Account services at www.sefton.gov.uk/my-account.

You can find more information about the first stage of the review here.