Telford Vulnerable Residents Forced into Deeper Poverty

 Telford & Wrekin Council's Council Tax Policy Forces Vulnerable Residents into Deeper Poverty

In a shocking and deeply concerning move, Telford & Wrekin Council continues to impose council tax on under-18s, disabled under-18s, and disabled adults already in poverty.

This policy is not only ethically questionable but also dangerously exacerbates the financial hardships faced by some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Financial Strain and Unfair Taxation

Telford & Wrekin Council includes both the child’s income and the disabled child’s income through the Universal Credit system in their council tax calculations. Egregiously, the council also considers the LCWRA money, paid essentially to the most severely disabled adults, to help cover the £900 a month extra costs of being disabled.

The council's own website states that children under the age of 18 do not pay council tax. Yet, by including the child's element and disability income in their calculations, the council is effectively taxing disabled children.

This blatant contradiction questions the council's commitment to its strapline: "Protect, care, and invest to create a better borough."

The council disregards certain incomes like Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for adults. These benefits are designed to help with the additional costs of disability. However, by including other forms of disability income in their calculations, the council undermines the very purpose of these financial aids, and the lack of consistency creates financial instability for disabled residents. 

Exorbitant Expenses and Inadequate Support

The average disabled person incurs £900 in additional monthly expenses compared to those without disabilities. The money paid by the central government tops up the DLA/PIP payments, which only cover a maximum of 70% of a disabled person's income, whether they are adults or children. It is these top-ups that the Labour-led Telford & Wrekin Council are taxing.

Conclusion

Families throughout Telford and Wrekin are being dragged into ever deeper poverty, placed into avoidable and harrowing situations. This clearly shows how the Labour-led Telford & Wrekin Council's current council tax policy is pushing vulnerable residents further into poverty by political choice.

It is imperative that the council reevaluates its approach to council tax calculations, particularly concerning the incomes of disabled children and adults. Policies should be designed to alleviate financial burdens, not exacerbate them. The council must adhere to its stated mission to "Protect, care, and invest to create a better borough" by ensuring that its actions reflect these values.

Immediate action is needed to rectify these inconsistencies and provide more comprehensive support for the disabled community. 

Only then can Telford & Wrekin Council truly claim to serve all its residents, especially the most vulnerable, with fairness and compassion.

If Labour have no qualms about creating deeper poverty for its own residents, the question has to be asked - what will Labour be capable of if they were to form the next government?