NEWS UPDATE – Welsh Labour Government has laid NEW law before Assembly

NEWS UPDATE

Welsh Labour Government has laid NEW law before Assembly

From April the 1st, young people leaving the care system in Wales won’t have to pay Council Tax.

The Welsh Labour Government has laid a new law before the Assembly which will exempt Looked After Children from paying council tax until they are 25.

Lee Waters AM commented:

“This is about supporting care leavers and supporting their successful transition into adulthood and independent living.

“Housing costs are a huge concern for those under 25 and especially those leaving care. Following changes to Housing Benefit and the rollout of Universal Credit by the UK Government I’m glad that we’ve been able to step in to help those who need support.”

The Llanelli AM has been a member of the Assembly’s Cross-Party Group on Looked After Children and was instrumental in setting up an inquiry by the Assembly’s powerful Public Accounts Committee into the outcomes for children in the care system.

“Welsh Labour are committed to making Council Tax fairer and this legislation is about making that happen. I was proud to back these plans.

“There are many other discounts, reductions and exemptions available and I would encourage everyone to check the Welsh Government website to see if they could be paying less council tax.”

The new legislation is the latest in a series of measures designed to make council tax fairer in Wales – a key Welsh Labour commitment. The Welsh Government had previously consulted the public on the plans, with over 90% of respondents expressing their support for the proposals.

The principle of exempting care leavers from paying council tax has been widely accepted for some time, but the level of support available to care leavers across Wales has been inconsistent.