Residents who get help paying council tax will pay more as Brighton and Hove City Council copes with government cuts.

Changes to council tax reduction – formerly council tax benefit – are expected to see more households having to pay more of their council tax bills even if they receive other benefits.

Brighton and Hove City Council said they would look to absorb about a third of a £5 million Government funding cut but residents will also be expected to pay more.

Working age households will be hardest hit and will be expected to triple the amount they contribute to their council tax bills.

Currently, working age households are asked to pay a minimum of 8.5% of their council tax liability before council tax reduction is awarded.

However, from April 1 next year, the council is proposed that all working age people who claim CTR will have to pay 25% of their council tax liability before their benefit is paid.

Council documents state that the amount would be 35% in 2015/16 if the scheme was paid for solely by central government funding.

The savings limit for an eligible working age person to receive the benefit will be slashed from £16,000 to £6,000.

Non-dependants including grown up children who have not left home will also be asked to pay double what they currently pay.

It means that non-dependents earning more than £406 a month will be expected to pay £22.50 towards their parents’ council tax bill rather than the current £11.25 before council tax reduction can be considered.

Pensioners will be exempt from any changes and will receive the same support as they receive now.

The council is predicting that if the benefit continued at the same level a £8.1 million gap between the cost to the council and the amount of Government funding would grow by 2017/18.

A new agreed scheme needs to be in place by January.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “The council cannot change these rules, despite the fact that the money it receives to fund this part of the scheme is reducing.

“We will continue to provide a discretionary fund to help the most vulnerable households.”