As part of the campaign to encourage pensioners to claim the help they are entitled to, the Government will rename Council Tax Benefit to Council Tax Rebate. 

The Government will now work with local councils, the Royal British Legion and other stakeholder organisations on the administrative steps and costs involved for local authorities before setting out the final timetable for implementing the change across the country.

Renaming Council Tax Benefit to Council Tax Rebate,  is just one part of an ongoing programme of awareness campaigns and measures aimed at encouraging the take up of benefits and make claiming simpler. 

Campaign groups, including the Royal British Legion, are concerned that pensioners are reluctant to claim a ‘benefit’. As such, the Government is taking action so that more people can get help with their council tax, by renaming Council Tax Benefit as a ‘rebate’ they hope more pensioners will take up help.

Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper said today:

“Changing the name makes it clearer that many pensioners are entitled to this money back on their council tax rather than seeing it as a separate benefit that they may not want to claim. We’ve listened to the Royal British Legion and others who’ve called for this change. This is part of making sure people get proper support and respect when they retire.” 

Since November last year, pensioners have been able to apply for support with their Council Tax and Housing costs through an initiative that allows people to avoid pages of paper work and make a claim for this support and Pension Credit in just one free phone call.

Powers to rename Council Tax Benefit have been taken in an amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill which is due to reach its final stages on 10th November.