Hard-up villagers face losing hundreds of pounds in their benefit payments from April.

Claimants in South Cambridgeshire could lose up to 8.5 per cent of their council tax support when the district council takes on responsibility for the handout. At worst, this could be £5 a week – or more than £200 annually.

The cut was caused by the Government providing £1 million less for the scheme, but Liberal Democrats argued the Conservative-run council should have absorbed the reduction, rather than passing it on to residents.

Cllr John Williams,  opposition finance spokesman, told the meeting that approved the policy: “It’s an absolute disgrace that this council has taken this responsibility to attack the most vulnerable members of society.”

Pensioners, carers, disabled people and single parents with children under 5 are protected from the reduction but, because 54 per cent of current claimants in the district are pensioners, working age claimants face a disproportionate hit.

This has been diminished by the removal of council tax exemptions for empty properties and discounts for second homes, while properties which have been empty for more than two years will be liable for an additional 50 per cent charge on top of council tax.

Similar measures in Cambridge were sufficient to prevent cuts in payouts to non-exempt groups, but the amount of pensioners in South Cambridgeshire means benefits could be reduced by up to 8.5 per cent.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Cllr Bridget Smith warned the cuts could force people into homelessness, while independent Cllr Deborah Roberts claimed it was “morally very wrong”.

She said: “This will push people already on the edge over the edge. This will affect people who have very small amounts of spare money.”

Deputy leader Cllr Simon Edwards said the council could not foot the shortfall in the benefit bill itself.

He said: “We are not passing this on to the most vulnerable in society, absolutely not – we are protecting the most vulnerable in society. I think this is a very good scheme under the circumstances. It’s not ideal, but I think it’s the best we can do.”

The policy was approved by 30 votes to 12.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Benefits-cut-will-push-vulnerable-people-over-edge-05022013.htm