Single person discount review

Last updated: 20/02/2013 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

CAPITA working in association with Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council is undertaking a review of customers currently in receipt of a single person discount on their Council Tax account.

More than 70,000 customers will be included and all current entitlements will be checked and verified with the aim of ensuring those who are not entitled to a discount do not receive it.

The Council is using CAPITA, an external organisation, to carry out the review on its behalf. Data will be securely transferred between Cornwall Council and CAPITA, who will be working closely with Equifax, (a credit reference agency) to compare details of properties where single person discount is being claimed against information held on other databases, to check if there appears to be more than one adult living at any address.

All personal data will be processed securely and in compliance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Where information shows there may be more than one adult living at an address, a letter and form will be issued to the customer, to allow them to provide details of all residents in their household. If the details returned confirm that more than one adult is resident at the property the discount will, if appropriate, be stopped and a new Council Tax bill will be issued.

Customers will be required to pay back any money due from the date they were no longer entitled to the discount.

Where checks show more than one adult living at an address but that information is disputed by the person claiming the discount there will be further investigation activity as required.

Report a change in your circumstances

If you want to report a change in your circumstances regarding Council Tax, you can do it now by calling Cornwall Council Council tax Service on: 0300 1234 171.
More information about how to report a change in your circumstances visit our revenue section change of circumstances.

Report benefit fraud

If you suspect someone is committing council tax fraud or any other benefit fraud you can report it anonymously by calling the fraud hotline number: 0800 731 6125.