Councillors in Denbighshire have agreed to implement the All Wales Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the 2016/17.
The council tax benefit system changed in March 2013, when responsibility for providing support for the tax and the funding associated with it was passed to the Welsh Government.
As a result, the Welsh Government, in partnership with councils across Wales, introduced the council tax reduction scheme.
There will continue to be one scheme across Wales for 2016/17, with the aim of providing a consistent level of support to claimants.
The maximum level of support is 100% and councils can use their discretion when dealing with applications locally.
Denbighshire councillors have agreed to continue with the reduction scheme for the next financial year.
They also agreed some discretionary elements for Denbighshire, including:
* Increasing the extended payment period of four weeks to people after they return to work, if they have been receiving benefits for 26 weeks or more.
* Discretion to disregard war disablement or war widows pensions when calculating income as part of the application process.
* The ability to backdate for up to six months any application of council tax support awards for working age customers more than the standard period of three months prior to the claim.
Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: “The scheme has been set up to help those that need support in paying council tax and the council has a pot of funding in place to provide financial support on a case by case basis.
“People can submit an online claim form available from the council’s website or through our One Stop Shops.
“Some applications may be submitted through landlords or organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and benefits advice agencies."
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