Young at heart exhibition 24 and 25 May at George's Market

9 May 2010

Find out about rate relief at the Young at Heart Exhibition – 24 and 25 May 2011

Land & Property Services (LPS) is exhibiting at the Young at Heart Exhibition taking place at St George’s Market, Belfast on 24 and 25 May.

The event is aimed at anyone retired in Northern Ireland.  Staff from LPS, the Government Agency responsible for collecting rates, will be on hand to explain the various rate reliefs available to older people.

Iain Greenway, LPS Director of Operations, is encouraging those attending the exhibition to visit the organisation’s stand: “Our staff will be on hand to talk to visitors and to take questions about the range of reliefs available to ratepayers. If you are having trouble paying your rate bill we would encourage you to telephone us on 101 (028 9151 3101) to see if you are entitled to any of the rate reliefs and entitlements available or to enter into a payment agreement with us.”

Rate reliefs for older people include:

• The Lone Pensioner Allowance entitles pensioners aged 70 or over who live alone, to a 20% discount in their rate bill.
  
• People on low incomes, including pensioners, may be eligible for a reduction in their rates through the Housing Benefit Scheme or Rate Relief scheme.

There is also the Rates Deferment Scheme, which provides a different payment choice for owner-occupier pensioners on a modest or fixed income who are finding it difficult to pay their rate bill each year.

Further information about these rate reliefs including application forms can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates or by telephoning 101. If customers are calling from a mobile, they should telephone 028 9151 3101 (calls cost 10p per call).