RESIDENTS in West Devon are being alerted to a new financial support scheme which will be introduced when council tax benefit is abolished next April.

As part of the Government's welfare reforms, all working age people who are currently receiving council tax benefit in the borough will be expected, from next April, to pay a minimum of 25% towards their council tax. The move is expected to affect around 2,300 households in West Devon, although pensioners will be protected from the changes.

The Government has tasked councils across the country to design their own localised replacement to council tax benefit which will now be called the council tax support scheme. From Monday, August 6, the borough council is starting an eight-week consultation so people can have their say on the West Devon draft scheme. Consultation ends on October 1.

In West Devon, all affected households will receive a letter about the changes in the coming weeks and will have an opportunity to comment on the scheme. Information on the changes will also be available at the council's Connect outreach events, over the next few weeks.

The funding that the Government will be issuing to each district council to pay for the council tax support scheme will be much less than it is now, so councils will have to decide how best to ensure that those who are most in need still get support from a shrinking pot of money.

The situation will vary from one district to another, because the funds will be different and the number of pensioners who must be taken care of first will also vary from one location to another.

Districts with a higher proportion of pensioners will see a smaller pot of money to be divided up among the working age benefit residents, so these people will be hit harder.

Cllr Philip Sanders, leader of the borough council, said: 'The shortage in funding means that West Devon Borough Council will have to make some difficult decisions about who gets financial help and how much they get. We are committed to working with residents and the voluntary sector to identify the most vulnerable people and reduce the impact on them.

'We aim to design a local council tax support scheme that is as simple and fair as possible. Councils in Devon have been working together to find the best options for a local scheme and now we're ready to share our ideas with the public.'

The consultation will also include bodies like the Citizens' Advice Bureau, Housing Associations who find affordable homes for lower paid people, welfare groups and pensioners' organisations.

Advisors will be available at West Devon Connect outreach events to help explain the changes.

For further information call West Devon Borough Council on 01822 813600.