From 1 April 2013 the national Council Tax Benefit (CTB) scheme was abolished. All councils including Bromley have replaced it with their own local scheme called Council Tax Support (CTS).
Council Tax Support (CTS) is a local welfare benefit which helps working age people on a low income pay their council tax.
There are two types of Council Tax Support:
- Main Council Tax Support is for people who are on a low income
- Second Adult Rebate is for people who may not have a partner but who share their home with someone who is over 18, is on a low income and does not pay rent.
Council Tax Support is means tested. This means that we have to take into account your income, savings and investments when deciding whether you are entitled.
The scheme does not apply to retirement age pensioners who continue to receive the same level of support they would have received had the Council Tax Benefit scheme continued.
Current scheme
Current scheme From 1 April 2023 our scheme will provide working-age claimants with support of up to 70 percent of their council tax liability. Therefore, all working age residents will be required to pay a minimum of 30 percent of their liability. The scheme also restricts entitlement to band D council tax liability. All war pensions from the Veterans Agency are disregarded as income in the calculation for Council Tax Support
Any support awarded is credited directly to the council tax account with a new bill issued to confirm the revised amount to pay.
Making a claim
If you are receiving Council Tax Support, you must tell us straightaway of any changes in circumstances.
View the Council Tax Support scheme policy document (PDF 1.15MB)
Council Tax discretionary discount
Discretionary discounts to council tax can be made if you can show you need extra help with your council tax, this funding is sometimes referred to as being from the council’s hardship fund. You must have had a decision for Council Tax Support within the last three months.
Please ensure you apply for Council Tax Support before applying for a discretionary discount
Apply
Apply for discretionary discount
Have your say - Consultation on Council Tax Support Scheme from 2025 to 2026
The council faces significant financial challenges which will have a detrimental impact on services provided to residents unless they are addressed. There is currently a potential budget gap of in excess of £34m per annum by 2025/26 which could increase to £61m by 2027/28. This is mainly caused by increasing demand for social care for vulnerable adults and children and the rapid rise in the cost of housing for homeless residents. Therefore, the council is considering several possibilities towards meeting this shortfall and to help protect key services for residents. This consultation considers one such response.
The council has supported residents who are eligible by enabling them to pay a percentage of Council Tax rather than the full amount. From 2025/26, it is proposed to keep this support, and that those eligible for the support will pay 50 per cent of their Council Tax bill in addition to the Band D entitlement restriction going forwards. This proposed increase from the current 30 per cent will contribute towards reducing the future budget gap, ensuring that the council can continue to provide essential services in the long term.
These changes would save £2.1m per annum, a saving that could pay for:
- 14,850 households’ refuse collection.
- 6 libraries.
- Maintain 72 of our 165 parks.
- 50 per cent of our road maintenance costs.
In addition, the council is also proposing to simplify the scheme from 2025/26 by:
- Removing the Better Buy and Second Adult Rebate (2AR) elements of the scheme so that entitlement is based on the claimants’ income only.
- No longer applying the earned income disregard to Universal Credit claims as these are now included in the income assessment for Universal Credit.
- Incorporating, which includes the annual uprating and non-dependant deductions, any changes made to the Housing Benefit scheme which would include the two child limit and to disregard any eligible compensation payments.
In recognition that some residents currently face, or will face, financial difficulties, the council proposes to increase the Council Tax Support Discretionary hardship fund by £45,000 to £260,000, to directly help those who most need assistance.
No further automatic annual consultations will be undertaken in future years regarding the Council Tax Support Scheme unless a proposal is put forward to revise or replace the scheme adopted by the council.
The council is seeking your views on how it should assist those in need at this time and the level of Council Tax Support available from 2025/26.
Consultation on the Council Tax Support Scheme from 2025/26
The survey is open until 27 December 2024.