Disabled people across Somerset who were on Income Related Employment and Support Allowance – a benefit designed for those with significant, lifelong disabilities and health problems who cannot work – have suddenly been hit with huge council tax bills following their forced migration to Universal Credit.

Previously those on IR- ESA tended to receive 100 per cent discount on council tax bills because that benefit was not counted as ‘income’. 

People with diverse conditions from autism, to MS and severe mental health issues ( for example)  are now being hit with council tax  bills for hundreds of pounds despite no change in their circumstances or income   – all because the name of their benefit has changed and because Somerset Council policy is to treat a key disability-related  element of their Universal Credit  - LCWRA which stands for ‘Limited Capability for work and work-related activity’ - as ‘income’ and tax them on it.

We cannot overstate the fear, the despair and the hardship this is causing to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. For some this has triggered thoughts of self harm. More disabled people will be pushed into poverty, ill-health and debt if nothing is done. 

This could well be deemed unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act.

The Council did not account for what represents a gruesome ‘windfall’ of extra income from over 4,000 disabled people in this way when it set its budget last year. Other changes were agreed to save money but the interaction of Somerset’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme rules with the DWP migration programme was not identified as a future money earner. Indeed taking money from disabled people in this way will not help address the council’s financial emergency as other council services will find themselves under even greater pressure as a result.

Disabled people affected by this  are being told to apply for extra help to the Exceptional Hardship Scheme but that is a complex and lengthy process with unknown outcomes.

Somerset Council has a commitment to equality and compassion and  so needs to act swiftly. 

We call on Somerset Council Executive to immediately instruct officers to suspend council tax demands to disabled people who have been migrated from ir-ESA to UC,  put in place some form of effective emergency relief and get the council tax reduction  policy changed  so that the LCWRA  element of Universal Credit is not treated as ‘income’ – this is the only way to  put an end to the harm that is being caused.