A council is offering special payment plans to those struggling to pay council tax during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Stockport Council website states: “The coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a significant impact on our economy and services and we would like to reassure residents who are struggling to pay their council tax bill at this difficult time.”
The site explains that council tax pays for essential services across the borough and if your circumstances have not changed, you should continue to pay as normal, maintaining direct debit payments, or the arranged payment plan detailed in your bill.
The authority will continue to send reminder letters to people who miss council tax payments, unless they have a pending council tax support claim.
But, if you’re struggling to pay your council tax, there is support available from the council and other agencies.
The council has told its residents to:
- make sure you have claimed all the benefits that you are entitled to. This is Universal Credit for working age families from the Department for Work and Pensions and Council Tax Support
- if you are struggling to pay your council tax, it is important that you get in touch either by using the council’s online chat service on its website or by emailing council.tax@stockport.gov.uk to make sure you are getting all the support that you are entitled to
The council said, depending on what comes from those discussions, it may be able to agree a special payment plan to support those struggling.
The authority added it can also look at any arrears in order to consider everything you owe to the council to avoid any costs or charges.
The usual council tax reduction schemes, including single person’s reduction, student reduction and severe mental impairment reduction.
