A new council tax support scheme (CTSS) has been agreed by cabinet members to simplify life for Slough residents whose circumstances change.

From now on, if a claimant’s circumstances change slightly but remain within a set income band, their council tax discount will not be amended or changed.

The CTSS exists to support locals who struggle to pay their council tax by reducing it to a certain percentage depending on their weekly income and household size.

From now on if a one child couple household earns below £199.48 or is on income support, job seekers allowance or universal credit, the tenants will only pay 20 percent of their council tax - without having to be reassessed if they get a small rise.

The strategic project manager, Lauretta Vitalis, claimed the current system makes it harder for a claimant to budget as they will have to be reassessed and rebilled whenever there is a change in their income.

The council has a case load of around 11,500 of council tax support customers. Only 1.2 per cent will be worse off under the simpler system.

They will be directly contacted and supported.

Vulnerable groups like households receiving disability premium are entitled to be assessed of a maximum of 100 percent council tax support.

James Swindlehurst, leader of the cabinet, said: “I think the most encouraging thing is that clearly most people are made better off by this change rather than worse.

“The benefit to us is that instead of small hourly adjustments and constant rebilling, people will now be able to move fairly fluidly inside the band without any contact with the council and, in terms with our core administration costs, that’s more money we can push into the scheme.”