Council Tax support scheme

Current Council Tax Support Scheme

The current scheme for 2025/26 has the following restrictions for working age customers.

• Capital is limited to £8000 – over this amount and you do not receive any Council Tax Support.
• Minimum entitlement is £3.50 per week – unless your income shows you would be entitled to £3.50 a week or more, you will not receive Council Tax Support.
• Property banding is capped at 90% of a Band D – a customer in Band E and above will only have their Council Tax Support calculated as 90% of the Band D liability at the most.
• Backdating is restricted to 1 month since 1 April 2018.
• Self-employed income is assessed using 16 hours at minimum wage for the first year of business.
• All child maintenance is disregarding.
• Temporary absence away from home is in line with the Housing Benefit regulations.
• Care leavers are fully exempt from council tax up to the age of 25 years.
• Premium charges apply to properties that have been empty for more than 1 year, 5 years and 10 years.
• An exceptional hardship fund of £25,000.

The scheme above has some minor differences for vulnerable working age customers.