Adult Social Care charging policy consultation

Have your say on proposed changes to community care charges

The council is consulting on a proposal to change the way we calculate how much people pay towards their care and support at home and in the community.

We are consulting on the proposed changes to the additional top up that Waltham Forest applies to something called the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) which is the nationally set amount of money people receiving council-arranged care must be allowed to keep for their daily living expenses after contributing to their care costs. In addition to the Minimum Income Guarantee Waltham Forest currently applies an additional 25% which increases the amount people receiving care are allowed to keep.

The consultation is open for 12 weeks, from Thursday 22 May 2025 to Wednesday 13 August 2025 and the views and opinions shared during the consultation will be presented in the report that goes to the Council’s Cabinet Committee who will take the decision about how community care charges are calculated.

Before taking any decision, the council wants to hear from residents, especially people receiving community care and support, their families, carers, service providers, and other key stakeholders about the proposal to phase out the 25% top up applied to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).

Please click here to complete the consultation questionnaire

...but please make sure you read all of the information before taking part.


What Is the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG)?

Under the Care Act 2014, local councils must ensure that charges for care do not reduce a person’s income below a certain minimum level. However, councils also have the option to let people keep more of their income if they choose.

This minimum level is set by government is a weekly amount and is called the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG). It is a weekly amount designed to make sure people who receive local authority arranged care and support in the community are left with enough income to cover their everyday costs like as food, bills, and personal items.

The MIG helps protect the standard of living for those who may be more vulnerable and provides financial stability for those accessing care and support in the community.

When the council carries out a financial assessment to work out how much someone can pay towards their care costs, the MIG amount is excluded from the calculation. This means that no one is asked to pay for care if it leave them with less than the guaranteed minimum income.


How Waltham Forest applies the MIG

Local authorities can choose to let people to keep more of their income by adding an optional top up to the standard MIG.

Currently Waltham Forest, applies a 25% top up to the standard MIG levels. This means residents who receive local authority-arranged care and support in the community are allowed to keep more of their income than the standard minimum.

The top up varies depending on age and circumstances. The table below shows how Waltham Forest’s current MIG rates compare to the standard levels.

Age group

Standard MIG

Disability premium

LBWF MIG before top up

LBWF MIG with 25% top up

18 – 24 *

£89.15

£ 49.65

£138.80

£173.50

Lone parents (18+)*

£112.50

£ 49.65

£162.15

£202.69

25 – 64*

£112.50

£ 49.65

£138.80

£202.69

65+

£232.60

£0.00

£232.60

£290.75


*The council adds a weekly disability premium of £49.65 to the standard MIG for everyone under 65. This additional payment will continue and not subject to change.

Additional amounts may be added to the MIG for individuals responsible for children in the same household - £102.95 allocated per child, per week.

For example, a lone parent with two children would receive an additional allowance of £205.90 on top of the MIG amount of £202.69, which includes the 25% top up currently applied by the council.

The council is not consulting on changes to the standard MIG levels, as these are set by government and protected by law. We are consulting on the proposed changes to the additional top up that Waltham Forest applies.


What are we proposing?

Currently, Waltham Forest adds an extra 25% on top of the national Minimum Income Guarantee.

The council is proposing to gradually reduce this uplift in two stages:

  • From Late 2025: Reduce from 25% to 10%
  • From Late 2026: reduce from 10% to 0%

The standard MIG amount (set by government) is not changing.

These changes could affect people who get council arranged community service of some kind, such as homecare, day care or a direct payment and contribute towards the cost of their care.


Why are we proposing this change?

Financial Challenge

Like many other councils, Waltham Forest is facing increasing budget pressures across a range of services and is required to make a minimum of £25m in savings over the next three years to maintain a balanced budget.   The future funding position beyond 2025/26 is currently unknown but is dependent upon the outcome of the Spending Review and the reforms to local government funding. 

The Council uses its reserves to managing financial risks and support the delivery of savings, but earmarked reserves are forecast to reduce by 40% in March 2026 compared to March 2024.

These financial challenges are being driven by both reduced government funding and rising demand for services.

If implemented this change to the MIG could potentially save the council an estimated £1m per year which will contribute towards the adult’s and the councils savings over the next three years.

This proposal is just one of several plans in Adults Social Care to look at the budget pressures the service is facing. These proposals sit alongside a much bigger programme of savings across all council services to meet the current financial challenges.

Mission Waltham Forest

This proposal supports Waltham Forest broader goals under Mission Waltham Forest, which sets out a vision for a changed Borough by 2030. It aligns with the need to put the borough on a firm financial footing and ensure residents can live well and age well. To achieve this, the council must find more financially sustainable ways to deliver care, while continuing to provide core services and support for those who need it most.

Growing Demand for Support

Demand for adult social care services continues to rise due to:

  • Population growth and ageing: The number of people over 65 is expected to increase significantly by around 48% over the next 20 years.
  • Increases in local care needs: In 2022 to 2023 we received 8,008 new requests for support, up from 7,122 the year before.
  • More residents receiving a local authority arranged community care service (2021 to 2024):
    • 3,390 adults required long-term support (an increase of 300 from 2021/22)
    • 2815 people received ongoing support at home (up by 275 from 2021/22)
    • 575 older adults were in residential or nursing care (up by 25 from 2021/22)
    • 796 residents used a personal budget via direct payments (this is a small increase of 6 people from the previous year.)

(Source: SALT Return, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023–24)

Aligning with other Councils

As part of reviewing how to deliver services more sustainably, the council looked at how other boroughs approach the Minimum Income Guarantee. This comparison highlighted that Waltham Forest remains one of the few councils still applying a 25% uplift, which is one of the highest discretionary rates in London.

To bring Waltham Forest into line with other boroughs and to help ensure services remain sustainable, the council is proposing to gradually reduce the additional 25% uplift to the Minimum Income Guarantee.


How the proposed changes could affect residents

If implemented, the impact of the changes will be different for each person depending on their financial situation and how reduction from 25% top up to the Minimum Income Guarantee affects their charges.

About 2500 residents receive care in the community. Below are some examples of how they might be affected by the proposed change.

Nil Payers (currently not contributing)

Around 1400 residents do not currently pay towards their care because their financial assessment showed that paying would leave them with less than the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).

If the council reduces the extra top-up that is added to the MIG, we estimate that around 350 of these residents might be asked to pay a small amount. This would happen if their reassessed income is now above the new minimum level.

Others may still not have to pay, depending on their financial circumstances.

Contributing Residents (currently assessed to contribute)

Around 1000 residents who are already making payments towards their care may have to pay more each week if the top up to the MIG is reduced.

How much they pay will depend on their age, income, and personal circumstances.

Self-Funders (assessed to pay full cost of care)

Some residents pay the full cost of their care because they are assessed as having enough income above the MIG or savings over £23,250. These residents, and those living in care homes, will not be affected by the proposed changes to the discretionary uplift.


Alternative options considered

Eliminate the MIG top up without phasing: The council considered reducing the top up from 25% to 0% straight away. This would bring Waltham Forest in line with many other London boroughs who have adopted this approach. However, this would have an immediate and significant impact on people currently getting support, with no time to prepare or adjust.


Reduce the MIG top-up from 25% to 5%: The Council considered reducing the top-up from 25% to 5% (instead of 10%), followed by a further drop to 0%. While this would save the Council more money and have less immediate impact than going straight to 0%, it would still be a big change for those affected and might not give enough time for people to adjust smoothly.


No change: Maintain the current approach to apply a discretionary uplift of 25% on top of the national MIG levels: Maintaining the current policy, which includes a 25% top up to the Minimum Income Guarantee was not the preferred option.

The council is legally required to operate within its financial means and deliver services in a way sustainable over the long term. Taking no action in the face of ongoing pressures would further impact the council’s finances and risk its ability to continue providing essential services.


What happens next

Before taking any decision, the Council wants to hear from residents, especially people receiving community care and support, their families, carers, service providers, and other key stakeholders about the proposal to phase out the 25% top up applied to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).

Once the consultation closes, the Council will review all responses, including feedback from residents, carers, service providers, and other stakeholders.

The findings will be included in a report that will be presented to the Health and Adults Scrutiny Committee and then to the Council’s Cabinet Committee, who will consider whether to proceed with the proposal.

No decision has been made yet. The consultation is a genuine opportunity to influence the outcome.

Should any changes be agreed in the future, the Council will communicate with those affected and consider what support may be needed to manage any impact.


Further information

Please also see the Example scenarios document for theoretical examples of how people with different circumstances may be affected and the and Comparison to other London boroughs document for a review of what other London boroughs charging policies are.


Take part

We would like to hear your views on our proposal to change the way we calculate how much people pay towards their care and support at home and in the community. Please complete our consultation questionnaire by clicking the link below:




Have your say on proposed changes to community care charges

The council is consulting on a proposal to change the way we calculate how much people pay towards their care and support at home and in the community.

We are consulting on the proposed changes to the additional top up that Waltham Forest applies to something called the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) which is the nationally set amount of money people receiving council-arranged care must be allowed to keep for their daily living expenses after contributing to their care costs. In addition to the Minimum Income Guarantee Waltham Forest currently applies an additional 25% which increases the amount people receiving care are allowed to keep.

The consultation is open for 12 weeks, from Thursday 22 May 2025 to Wednesday 13 August 2025 and the views and opinions shared during the consultation will be presented in the report that goes to the Council’s Cabinet Committee who will take the decision about how community care charges are calculated.

Before taking any decision, the council wants to hear from residents, especially people receiving community care and support, their families, carers, service providers, and other key stakeholders about the proposal to phase out the 25% top up applied to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).

Please click here to complete the consultation questionnaire

...but please make sure you read all of the information before taking part.


What Is the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG)?

Under the Care Act 2014, local councils must ensure that charges for care do not reduce a person’s income below a certain minimum level. However, councils also have the option to let people keep more of their income if they choose.

This minimum level is set by government is a weekly amount and is called the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG). It is a weekly amount designed to make sure people who receive local authority arranged care and support in the community are left with enough income to cover their everyday costs like as food, bills, and personal items.

The MIG helps protect the standard of living for those who may be more vulnerable and provides financial stability for those accessing care and support in the community.

When the council carries out a financial assessment to work out how much someone can pay towards their care costs, the MIG amount is excluded from the calculation. This means that no one is asked to pay for care if it leave them with less than the guaranteed minimum income.


How Waltham Forest applies the MIG

Local authorities can choose to let people to keep more of their income by adding an optional top up to the standard MIG.

Currently Waltham Forest, applies a 25% top up to the standard MIG levels. This means residents who receive local authority-arranged care and support in the community are allowed to keep more of their income than the standard minimum.

The top up varies depending on age and circumstances. The table below shows how Waltham Forest’s current MIG rates compare to the standard levels.

Age group

Standard MIG

Disability premium

LBWF MIG before top up

LBWF MIG with 25% top up

18 – 24 *

£89.15

£ 49.65

£138.80

£173.50

Lone parents (18+)*

£112.50

£ 49.65

£162.15

£202.69

25 – 64*

£112.50

£ 49.65

£138.80

£202.69

65+

£232.60

£0.00

£232.60

£290.75


*The council adds a weekly disability premium of £49.65 to the standard MIG for everyone under 65. This additional payment will continue and not subject to change.

Additional amounts may be added to the MIG for individuals responsible for children in the same household - £102.95 allocated per child, per week.

For example, a lone parent with two children would receive an additional allowance of £205.90 on top of the MIG amount of £202.69, which includes the 25% top up currently applied by the council.

The council is not consulting on changes to the standard MIG levels, as these are set by government and protected by law. We are consulting on the proposed changes to the additional top up that Waltham Forest applies.


What are we proposing?

Currently, Waltham Forest adds an extra 25% on top of the national Minimum Income Guarantee.

The council is proposing to gradually reduce this uplift in two stages:

  • From Late 2025: Reduce from 25% to 10%
  • From Late 2026: reduce from 10% to 0%

The standard MIG amount (set by government) is not changing.

These changes could affect people who get council arranged community service of some kind, such as homecare, day care or a direct payment and contribute towards the cost of their care.


Why are we proposing this change?

Financial Challenge

Like many other councils, Waltham Forest is facing increasing budget pressures across a range of services and is required to make a minimum of £25m in savings over the next three years to maintain a balanced budget.   The future funding position beyond 2025/26 is currently unknown but is dependent upon the outcome of the Spending Review and the reforms to local government funding. 

The Council uses its reserves to managing financial risks and support the delivery of savings, but earmarked reserves are forecast to reduce by 40% in March 2026 compared to March 2024.

These financial challenges are being driven by both reduced government funding and rising demand for services.

If implemented this change to the MIG could potentially save the council an estimated £1m per year which will contribute towards the adult’s and the councils savings over the next three years.

This proposal is just one of several plans in Adults Social Care to look at the budget pressures the service is facing. These proposals sit alongside a much bigger programme of savings across all council services to meet the current financial challenges.

Mission Waltham Forest

This proposal supports Waltham Forest broader goals under Mission Waltham Forest, which sets out a vision for a changed Borough by 2030. It aligns with the need to put the borough on a firm financial footing and ensure residents can live well and age well. To achieve this, the council must find more financially sustainable ways to deliver care, while continuing to provide core services and support for those who need it most.

Growing Demand for Support

Demand for adult social care services continues to rise due to:

  • Population growth and ageing: The number of people over 65 is expected to increase significantly by around 48% over the next 20 years.
  • Increases in local care needs: In 2022 to 2023 we received 8,008 new requests for support, up from 7,122 the year before.
  • More residents receiving a local authority arranged community care service (2021 to 2024):
    • 3,390 adults required long-term support (an increase of 300 from 2021/22)
    • 2815 people received ongoing support at home (up by 275 from 2021/22)
    • 575 older adults were in residential or nursing care (up by 25 from 2021/22)
    • 796 residents used a personal budget via direct payments (this is a small increase of 6 people from the previous year.)

(Source: SALT Return, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023–24)

Aligning with other Councils

As part of reviewing how to deliver services more sustainably, the council looked at how other boroughs approach the Minimum Income Guarantee. This comparison highlighted that Waltham Forest remains one of the few councils still applying a 25% uplift, which is one of the highest discretionary rates in London.

To bring Waltham Forest into line with other boroughs and to help ensure services remain sustainable, the council is proposing to gradually reduce the additional 25% uplift to the Minimum Income Guarantee.


How the proposed changes could affect residents

If implemented, the impact of the changes will be different for each person depending on their financial situation and how reduction from 25% top up to the Minimum Income Guarantee affects their charges.

About 2500 residents receive care in the community. Below are some examples of how they might be affected by the proposed change.

Nil Payers (currently not contributing)

Around 1400 residents do not currently pay towards their care because their financial assessment showed that paying would leave them with less than the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).

If the council reduces the extra top-up that is added to the MIG, we estimate that around 350 of these residents might be asked to pay a small amount. This would happen if their reassessed income is now above the new minimum level.

Others may still not have to pay, depending on their financial circumstances.

Contributing Residents (currently assessed to contribute)

Around 1000 residents who are already making payments towards their care may have to pay more each week if the top up to the MIG is reduced.

How much they pay will depend on their age, income, and personal circumstances.

Self-Funders (assessed to pay full cost of care)

Some residents pay the full cost of their care because they are assessed as having enough income above the MIG or savings over £23,250. These residents, and those living in care homes, will not be affected by the proposed changes to the discretionary uplift.


Alternative options considered

Eliminate the MIG top up without phasing: The council considered reducing the top up from 25% to 0% straight away. This would bring Waltham Forest in line with many other London boroughs who have adopted this approach. However, this would have an immediate and significant impact on people currently getting support, with no time to prepare or adjust.


Reduce the MIG top-up from 25% to 5%: The Council considered reducing the top-up from 25% to 5% (instead of 10%), followed by a further drop to 0%. While this would save the Council more money and have less immediate impact than going straight to 0%, it would still be a big change for those affected and might not give enough time for people to adjust smoothly.


No change: Maintain the current approach to apply a discretionary uplift of 25% on top of the national MIG levels: Maintaining the current policy, which includes a 25% top up to the Minimum Income Guarantee was not the preferred option.

The council is legally required to operate within its financial means and deliver services in a way sustainable over the long term. Taking no action in the face of ongoing pressures would further impact the council’s finances and risk its ability to continue providing essential services.


What happens next

Before taking any decision, the Council wants to hear from residents, especially people receiving community care and support, their families, carers, service providers, and other key stakeholders about the proposal to phase out the 25% top up applied to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG).

Once the consultation closes, the Council will review all responses, including feedback from residents, carers, service providers, and other stakeholders.

The findings will be included in a report that will be presented to the Health and Adults Scrutiny Committee and then to the Council’s Cabinet Committee, who will consider whether to proceed with the proposal.

No decision has been made yet. The consultation is a genuine opportunity to influence the outcome.

Should any changes be agreed in the future, the Council will communicate with those affected and consider what support may be needed to manage any impact.


Further information

Please also see the Example scenarios document for theoretical examples of how people with different circumstances may be affected and the and Comparison to other London boroughs document for a review of what other London boroughs charging policies are.


Take part

We would like to hear your views on our proposal to change the way we calculate how much people pay towards their care and support at home and in the community. Please complete our consultation questionnaire by clicking the link below: