Council Tax and Benefits home page
As part of Customer Relations Management the Council Tax and Benefits team are responsible for the administration of Council Tax and the delivery of the Housing and Council Tax Benefits Service. This is delivered through four front line offices at Tillydrone, Mastrick, St Nicholas House and Crown House, a customer contact section dealing with telephone calls (based at Crown House) and a large processing team dealing with the administration of Council Tax and claims for Housing and Council Tax Benefit (predominantly based at Crown House).
Council Tax
Council Tax is the local government form of taxation. Based on the value of properties the monies collected in the form of Council Tax plays a vital role in financing the activities of the Council.
Our responsibilities include:
- Day to day operational administration of Council Tax
- The issue of Council Tax bills, reminders and final notices in respect of monies due
- Collection of the Council Tax
- This includes taking payments by cheques, credit & debit cards by telephone and in person
- Collection of Water & Waste Water (Sewerage) charges on behalf of Scottish Water
- Dealing with all form of queries from customers. This includes:
- Applications for discounts/exemptions
- Visiting properties to gather evidence in support of requests for discounts/exemptions
- Queries regarding the make up of the Council Tax charge
- Property banding queries
- Queries with regard to the recovery of arrears through legal action taken against non payers
- Making payment arrangements for those in arrears
- Processing of changes in circumstances (e.g. change of address etc.,)
The Council currently collects around 93-94% of Council Tax in the year it falls due for collection and vigorously pursues those who do not meet their obligations.
In Aberdeen there are over 100,000 households liable for Council Tax. Some dwellings, for instance students’ residences and certain unoccupied dwellings, are exempt.
Housing and Council Tax Benefits
The section looks after the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit on behalf of the Department of Works & Pensions. Housing Benefit comes in the form of Rent Allowance (for non-council tenants) and rent rebates (for council tenants). Council Tax Benefit is paid direct to a customers Council Tax Account , effectively reducing the liability. The work undertaken by the section includes:
- The gathering of information
- This includes application form, supporting information such as evidence of circumstances, income, rent and identity
- Assessment of claims for benefit
- Award and payment of Rent Allowances, Rent Rebates and Council Tax Benefit
- Issue of award notices
- Dealing with changes in customer circumstances
- Administration of Discretionary Housing Payments
This is in effect a hardship payment for those on Housing Benefit who are unable to meet the full cost of their rent. It can only be used to make up shortfall between entitlement to housing benefit and the rent due to be paid. The Council has a restricted budget which is funded entirely by the Department of Work and Pensions.
Appeals
The section also undertakes the initial administration of the Appeals process. This deals with claimants who are looking to appeal the decision made in respect of their Housing or Council Tax Benefit claim. After an independent initial review of the case, if the decision remains unchanged (and it doesn’t always) an appeal is submitted to the Appeals Service, a wholly independent tribunal who decide for or against the appeal.
Benefit Advice Team
The service provides a valuable advisory service to customers who require advice on benefits. As well as Council Tax and Housing benefits the team provide advice across a range of welfare benefits which may be beneficial to customers.
Fraud
This is a necessary part of the section’s work. The role of the Fraud team is to investigate allegations of Housing and Council Tax Benefit fraud and depending on the outcome of these investigations decide on the most appropriate action to be taken against a customer who has been proven to have committed a fraud. This could range from an administrative caution to prosecution via the Procurator Fiscal. More details of the work of the fraud team can be found from the link on the right.
Click here to access the Council Tax and Benefits Section structure chart.
For more information on the work of the Council Tax and Benefits Team please contact:
Contact(s)
- Council Tax & Benefits Section
Customer Relations Management
27 - 29 Crown House
Aberdeen, AB11 6HA
Tel: 08456 080921
Email: counciltax@aberdeencity.gov.uk
