Rates assistance applications open for new rating year

If you’re a low-income homeowner, then you could be eligible for help with paying your rates.

The Kāpiti Coast District Council is on hand to provide information and advice to applicants for the 2017/18 funding round the Department of Internal Affairs rates rebates scheme, which is now open.

Group Manager Corporate Services Wayne Maxwell says this is a great way for low-income home owners to get help paying their rates.

“We know paying rates can be tough for some members of our community. If you’re a low-income homeowner and you meet the criteria, you could get a support credit on your annual rates account of up to $620.”

Council supports the government in delivering this rates rebate scheme to the Kāpiti Coast community. “We’re here to support residents through the process, and we receive and process applications on behalf of the government. This includes offering staff time to witness the application form at each of our three Service Centres, and to answer any questions applicants might have.”

Over 2000 Kāpiti ratepayers received government rates assistance totalling around $1.2 million last rating year as part of the rates rebate scheme.

Applications opened in July 2017 and can be made at any time before 30 June 2018. Application forms and more information about whether a homeowner might qualify for this assistance are available through the Council website.

Council-funded assistance available

Council also has its own rates assistance package to help homeowners.

“If you’re eligible for the Department of Internal Affairs rates rebates scheme, you should also look into the rates assistance we offer. It’s targeted to homeowners who are on low incomes or facing one-off costs impacting their income level, like repair of water leaks. Each year we help out between 600-700 Kāpiti Coast home owners who get up to $300 rates credit to help make things a little easier – if you’re interested, this assistance can usually be applied for in early November each year.”

“Unique to Kāpiti, we also have water rates assistance scheme, with $25,000 of funding available to help out larger families with high water usage. People who fit the criteria for this support can apply in the final quarter of the rates year, from May-June.”

More information about rates assistance and how people can apply is available on the Kāpiti Coast District Council website.