FAQs

Council Tax Support helps people on a low income pay their Council Tax bill. How much help a person gets depends on their situation and the scheme’s rules.

No. These changes are only for working-age people. The rules for people who have reached pension age are set by the national government. Those rules are not part of this consultation. 

We check the Council Tax Support scheme every year. We want it to be fairer and easier to understand and run. We also want support to go down in smaller steps when someone earns more. We need the scheme to be affordable in the future. Keeping the current scheme is expected to cost £22.16 million in 2027/28. This is £1.18 million more than it costs now. The proposed scheme is expected to cost £21.19 million. This is about £0.97 million less than keeping the current scheme. Under the proposed changes, some households would get more help, but others would get less help or no help. 

In 2026/27, Waltham Forest can cover up to 85% of a person’s Council Tax bill. This is more than many other London councils offer. The proposed top rate of 75% would be closer to the rates offered by those councils. 

A consultation is when we ask people what they think before we make a decision. We want to know what you think about the changes, how they may affect people, and how they could be made better. 

No. These changes are the option we prefer, but we have not made a final decision. Before Full Council decides, we will look at what people say, how different residents might be affected, the costs, and other useful information. 

No. You can choose whether to take part. If you do, your answer will help us understand what people think before we decide. 

Anyone can take part. You do not have to receive Council Tax Support to tell us what you think. 

The top rate of 85% is now only for certain households. These include households that get Employment and Support Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, or certain parts of Universal Credit linked to caring or being less able to work. It also includes households responsible for a child aged five or younger. Other working-age households that qualify can get no more than 57%. 

Earned income is money you get from a job or from working for yourself. The proposed earnings groups use the money left after tax and other deductions. Benefits are counted separately and do not decide which earnings group a household is placed in. 

A non-dependant is usually another adult who lives in your home. They are not your partner and they are not responsible for paying the Council Tax bill. They could be an adult son or daughter, another relative, or a friend. 

A non-dependant deduction means some money is taken off your Council Tax Support because another adult lives in your home. Right now, £8 a week is taken off if that adult is not working, and £20 a week if they are working. We propose to keep these amounts. In some cases, nothing would be taken off. This could apply if the other adult is a student, or if the person claiming support or their partner gets certain disability benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance. 

Our estimates compare the proposals with the support households get now. We think 2,343 working-age households would get more help and 7,079 would get less. Of these, 1,734 households would be more than £5 a week better off. Another 534 households would be more than £5 a week worse off. 

The Council plans to keep £750,000 in a hardship fund. This money would give extra help to residents who are most affected by any changes. The consultation asks how we could reduce problems and who should get this extra help. We will decide the final details after looking at what people say and how different residents could be affected. 

The changes would not affect every household in the same way. Some would get more help, some would get less, and some might see little or no change. Some households might stop qualifying. What happens to you would depend on things like your earnings, who lives in your home, and whether disability rules apply. 

The example stories show how the changes could affect different households. They are only examples, so your situation may be different. You can see them under Documents and Example Scenarios.

No. The current scheme will stay the same while people share their views and the Council makes its decision. If the changes are approved, they would start on 1 April 2027. 

Public Perspectives, an independent organisation, will study the answers and write a report. We will also look at how different residents may be affected, the costs, and other useful information. Cabinet is expected to look at the proposals in December 2026 and make a recommendation. Full Council will make the final decision. We will put the results and the decision on our website. 

Please fill in the online consultation questionnaire. You can also ask for a paper copy. 

The consultation closes on Friday 6 November 2026. Please send us your views by then. 

If you need help understanding the consultation or filling in the questionnaire, contact our Benefits Service at revenue.services@walthamforest.gov.uk. You can also ask them for a paper copy.