VULNERABLE residents on benefits and earners on a low income will have to find more money to pay their council tax bill this year.

Bradford Council is reducing the amount of Council Tax Reduction (CTR) working age residents will receive after the Government cut its funding to the authority.

The changes will hit those who are working and on benefits, with CTR only assessed based on a band A property, but will not have an impact on pensioners.

Under the new rules, anyone who previously qualified for a £3.99 reduction per week or less will no longer receive a discount.

These changes have hit Brad Scott, of Coppicewood Avenue, Lidgett Green, who claims he will now have to find £289.46 a year to cover his council tax bill.

Mr Scott, who claims Employment Support Allowance, cannot work because he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - a condition which was the result of a house fire more than two decades ago.

The Bradford University graduate has trouble sleeping and is on medication to keep him awake during the day and medicine to help him sleep.

He claims the council is targeting vulnerable people who are unable to challenge the changes.

He lives in a band C property as part of a house share with another man and will have to find almost £300 a year as part of the changes.

He has questioned why the council is asking for more money from those who do not earn enough.

"These are the people who can least afford the changes," he said.

"I haven't really thought about how I'm going to afford it, but I'm going to have to make sacrifices.

"I don't have a social life or go anywhere.

"People are on less money than me and they are going to struggle to afford it."

Bradford Council has explained the changes in letters sent out to those affected and on their website.

Within the letter they explain how the authority was previously supported by the Government through the Revenue Support Grant by providing £183million of funding in 2013/14.

However, that funding is being cut to zero by 2020/21, forcing the council to make savings where it can.

Mr Scott, who moved to the city in 2003 to study Computer Animation and Special Effects, has arranged a meeting with his MP, Judith Cummins, to discuss the changes.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: “The Government is cutting its Revenue Support Grant to Bradford Council down to zero by 2020.

"This huge cut has consequences for people in our district and the way in which services can be provided.

"We are left with no choice but to consult on changes to the Council Tax Reduction scheme. Our biggest concern is to make sure that the most vulnerable are supported so we’ve asked officers to develop a hardship fund for those who need it.

"Meanwhile we continue to state our case to Government loud and clear that they need to fund Bradford fairly because our district has shouldered an unfair burden of the Government’s austerity programme."