Households are being urged to contact South Kesteven District Council if they believe they are receiving a Single Person Council Tax discount they are not entitled to.
The Council provides a 25% Council Tax discount to just over 22,400 households where there is only one adult resident at the property.
In 2022/23 this totalled more than £8.96 million of financial support.
Mr Richard Wyles, the Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “While it is important that we correct any Single Person discount that is wrong, we are keen to ensure that everyone gets the discount they are entitled to.
“We understand the positive impact this discount can have on those who are eligible so we will continue to support and encourage legitimate claims.’’
The Council is preparing to compare its Council Tax information with other databases to identify cases where more than one adult is living at an address and a discount is still being claimed.
Claire Moses, Head of Service (Revenues, Benefits, Customer and Community), said: “We believe most Single Person discounts are claimed honestly and legitimately but we know there are times when a household’s circumstances change and people forget to tell us that their eligibility to a discount should end.
“It is a statutory requirement for Council Tax payers to tell us within 21 days if they think they should no longer qualify for a discount. This is the final chance for anyone who thinks they are receiving a discount to which they are not entitled to tell us, before we contact them.”
The Council is obliged to amend any records it finds to be incorrect, backdated to the change in circumstances.
This could mean households that withhold information may find they have considerable Council Tax arrears to pay.
People currently claiming the Single Person Discount are being sent a form asking them to confirm or amend their circumstances. Failing to return this form or knowingly providing information that is inaccurate will incur a penalty.
For more information about this and other available discounts and exemptions, householders should go to www.southkesteven.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-discounts/council-tax-discount
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