Council Tax, Housing Benefit and Fraud

Council Tax - Council Tax is an annual fee paid to a local authority to cover essential services such as road maintenance, rubbish collection and leisure centres.  Council tax is based on the value of the property according to set bands.

Housing Benefit - Housing Benefit is a means-tested benefit administered by the Council on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions  (external link) It provides help for low-income tenants to meet their rental liability. The rules regarding the administration of Housing Benefit are held in regulations set by Parliament.

Business Rates - Your non-domestic rates collected by us are paid into a national pool and then shared out. Chester City Council's share, together with income from Council Taxpayers and grant provided by the Government is used to pay for the services provided by Chester City Council and other councils in this area.

Benefit fraud - We want everyone who is entitled to benefits to apply for them. But stealing through benefit fraud costs you, the taxpayer, millions of pounds each year, leaving less for those who need benefits to live.