Dales residents urged to contact council if struggling with payments

The council has also suspended all recovery actions against households until June 30 at the earliest, and is encouraging households with low incomes to make a claim for council tax support.

A district council spokesperson said: “To anyone struggling right now to make normal payments to us, our message is please contact us.

“Do it by email if possible to [email protected] or, during office hours, phone 01629 761222.

“Additionally, our council tax support scheme provides financial support to households with low incomes. We would encourage those who wish to make a claim to do so as soon as possible and we’ll be prioritising these claims to get support to eligible households as soon as we can. We will also make sure any government support is passed through to our residents as soon as practically possible.”

The government has recently announced a £500m hardship fund and the district council will be receiving additional funding to further assist those of working age who claim council tax support.

Eligible households will receive a credit on their council tax account. This will

be £150 or the amount outstanding on their account if lower.

Households don’t need to apply for this. If they are eligible the credit will be awarded automatically and residents will be sent a new council tax bill.

The government has announced changes to the housing benefit calculation in response to the covid-19 situation. Anyone receiving local housing allowance housing benefit, privately rented accommodation, will find their entitlements increased from April 6.

The council spokesperson added: “We will be reassessing all claim entitlements affected by these changes automatically and issuing new printed letters that explain revised entitlements. These letters will be issued in early April and will replace previous correspondence sent out.”

More information is available at www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/coronavirusfinances.