The tax burden on low-income groups could be eased under a planned shake-up of support payments.

Changes to Enfield’s council tax support scheme mean people on the lowest incomes could save more than £30 a year.

The council wants to lower the minimum amount claimants have to pay towards their council tax bills from 26.5 per cent to 24.5 per cent, so those eligible for the most support will pay less.

It says 12,200 council taxpayers on the lowest level of income would save an average of 60p per week as a result of the change.

But bills could rise slightly for some of the better-off claimants due to plans to raise the ‘income taper’ from 20 per cent to 22.5 per cent.

Support schemes were brought in by local authorities to help vulnerable residents pay their council tax after the Government scrapped its own benefit scheme in 2013.

It meant councils had to fund support for people who struggle with payments from their own budgets.

Recent changes to the support scheme in neighbouring Haringey mean 6,000 of its lowest-income families no longer have to pay any council tax.

Enfield Council wants to ensure the changes to its scheme do not significantly alter the £32 million a year it currently costs to run.

In fact, the proposals would increase income for the council by £112,000 per year.

On Wednesday (July 17), cabinet members agreed to launch a 12-week public consultation on the changes, which will begin soon.

Council leader Cllr Nesil Caliskan said the proposals followed detailed discussions within the council that led to a “collective decision making a clear, political commitment to help those on the lowest incomes and our most vulnerable residents”.

We have a new Twitter account

For more breaking news, local headlines, What’s On features and sport, follow our brand new Twitter account: @EnfieldIndy

We also have a Facebook page. ‘Like’ our page to keep up-to-date with news in Enfield and Tottenham.