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    Help for people on low incomes who may be affected by changes to the benefits system

    Thursday, 6 August 2026 at 12:30

    By Steve Haigh

    Somerset Council is taking action to protect people on low incomes who may be affected by changes to the benefits system.

    The Council has agreed a Council Tax Reduction scheme for the financial year 2026–27 which includes increasing income thresholds by three-point-eight per cent, in line with inflation. The move is designed to ensure the value of council tax discounts is maintained for most households. The scheme allows for consideration for residents moving from the older benefit systems onto Universal Credit, who may lose their automatic entitlement to a full council tax discount.

    To help with this, Somerset Council will assess anyone negatively affected through its means-tested Exceptional Hardship Fund for which extra money is being made available from council reserves to support the Fund. Anyone on a low-income needing help with paying their council tax should visit the Somerset Council website or call the Council on 0300 123 2224.

    If you have an item of community  news from where you live, please send it to; info@radioninesprings.com

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