Get help with your rates bill

Pat Hutchinson, MBE, Manager of Newtownabbey CAB with Sammy Wilson, Finance Minister, launching leaflets on help with rates at Newtownabbey CAB

Following today's announcement about the striking of the district rate by Northern Ireland Councils, Citizens Advice is urging people to find out if they qualify for financial help with their rates bills.

Ratepayers in a number of Council areas face a rise in their rates bill from April this year, for example, Magherafelt Council has announced an increase of 8.4%, Belfast a rise of 7.8%, Limavady a rise of 7.57% and Ballymoney a rise of 7.46%. 

Evidence collected from CAB Benefit Uptake work with the Social Security Agency shows that many people are not aware of the help available for paying their rates bills.  Help is available for those on a low income, pensioners and people with disabilities.  Citizens Advice encourages anyone with difficulties paying their rates bill to find out more about the help which is available by contacting their local CAB or by getting in touch with Land & Property Services. 

Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, visited Newtownabbey CAB last year to launch a range of information leaflets to highlight some of the help available for those struggling to pay their rates bills.  The leaflets were produced by Land & Property Services in consultation with the advice sector and are available for download from www.lpsni.gov.uk and the government web portal www.nidirect.gov.uk.