Simplified Council Tax Support Scheme to be considered

LIVERPOOL City Council is set to simplify its Council Tax Support Scheme for working age people.

Council Tax Support is a discount which helps households on low incomes with their Council Tax bill.

Around a 3rd of households in Liverpool are in receipt of the benefit, and this is the 1st review since the scheme was introduced in 2013.

Following a consultation, 1 of 4 options is being recommended to be taken forward.

The changes being proposed would see the introduction of a banded scheme, designed to ensure the scheme supports those on the lowest incomes, which enables residents to budget, is easy to understand, provides incentives for people moving into work.

The aim is also to future proof it in terms of its cost, as it costs the Council £73 million a year, and affects the amount of Council Tax that can be raised.

Households would get a 12-month award so they know how much their Council Tax bill will be reduced by over a year, enabling them to budget. The proposed changes will also align with Universal Credit and provide some certainty for people moving into or out of work, whilst continuing to provide support to those that need it most.

The upper and lower limits in net earning bands would be extended by £50 per week, while for households with children they will be extended by £25 per child, per week.

The maximum percentage of Council Tax discounted would change from 91.5% to 84%, and awards capped at the level of a Band B property. There would also be a maximum period that an award can be backdated.

The new-look scheme, if approved, is designed to be financially sustainable, and could reduce expenditure on the scheme by around £5.2 million, but would still be 1 of the most generous among the big:- 'core' Cities.

The proposal would not affect the Council Tax Support Scheme for pensioner households, the rules for which are controlled by Central Government.

The recommendation will initially be considered by the Cabinet on 10 December, and then has to go before Full Council on 22 January for approval.

Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Cllr Ruth Bennett, said:- "We are hugely proud of the range of support we offer to the most vulnerable residents in Liverpool and take our responsibility extremely seriously. However, we need to make sure that the Council Tax Support Scheme is affordable and sustainable in the long term. The changes make the scheme simpler to understand, and also provide households with a level of certainty by enabling them to know how much they will receive over a 12-month period, which will also reduce our administration costs. Our Council Tax Support Scheme will remain 1 of the most generous among the big cities and within the Liverpool City Region."

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Nursing graduate's negative experience inspires her to improve mental health support for others

NURSING graduate Jade Ainsworth aims to improve mental health support, spurred on by her own experience of struggling support services. The 25 year old from Barrow in Furness, who achieved a 1st Class Honours in BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health), is now enjoying her dream job as a Community Mental Health Nurse in Lincoln, with ambitions to progress quickly.

Jade is determined to help others needing mental health support to get the care they deserve:- "Much of the help I received fell short but it spurred me on to enter the profession and do things differently. I'm going to be a catalyst for change within imperfect systems. I want to climb the ladder, become a change management leader and put things in place that are more appropriate for patients, like trauma-informed care. I'll start by creating healthy workplace cultures where people feel comfortable sharing ideas and any feedback is constructive. A team that feels supported is open to learning and trying out new things. Ultimately, this improves the quality of patient care."

Jade's drive and determination have remained steadfast despite health challenges and finding herself in care at 16. Her love of learning kept her focused on her future:- "During the challenging times, education was my lifeline. College was where I got to focus on something else. I loved getting away from the house, being surrounded by like-minded people and the sense of achievement in getting good grades. I kept getting uprooted and had to move college 3 times. It showed how important education was to me because I never gave up."

Jade's been recognised for her achievements in the face of adversity. She was awarded an Edge Hill Excellence Scholarship and was shortlisted for Most Inspirational Student of the Year at the coveted Student Nursing Times Awards 2024. She has taken every opportunity while studying at Edge Hill, including:- spending a month in Tanzania where she experienced a range of nursing disciplines, including:- maternity and oncology. She'll soon build on this experience with a working trip to Bali. The University supported Jade practically and pastorally with her elective placement and, as a care leaver, staff were on hand to help her with her move to Lincoln.

Jade said:- "I was a bit stressed when I started my final year. I was looking for jobs and places to live while preparing for exams. I've come straight from care to uni and now I'm off into the big, wide world. I wasn't sure what I needed to do. The student support team was really helpful. My contact was there for casual support and advice. When I had a lot going on, she helped me organise and prioritise. I wish I'd known about the support earlier but when I started at Edge Hill, I didn't say I was a care leaver. I would definitely encourage others to be honest about your experience and make the most of the available support from the start."

And Jade would certainly recommend Edge Hill to prospective students in similar circumstances to her:- "It's not an overwhelming campus so it feels safe and homely: that's why I chose it. There's quality accommodation and so much support, from student volunteers welcoming you and encouraging you to mingle, to the friendly housekeepers who are always happy to chat. I want care leavers to recognise they have as much right to be at University as somebody with a conventional upbringing. People didn't think I'd make it to uni, but believe in yourself and do what you want to do. Feel the fear and do it anyway! If you're willing to give it your all, uni life is so rewarding."