FAQs

Council Tax Support (CTS) is a local discount scheme that provides financial support to working-age households in the London Borough of Harrow (LBH) who are on low incomes or receiving benefits.  

The Government sets the rules which tell us how much CTS can be paid to people of state pension age, and LBH is responsible for setting the scheme for working-age households.

There’s more information about Harrow’s current CTS scheme on the council website.

Full details of Harrow’s Council Tax Support Scheme (CTS) for 2024/25 are available on the council website. 

When working out how much support you receive under the 2024/25 CTS scheme, you can see which category you fit into based on questions such as whether you are classed as vulnerable under the scheme and have non-dependants, or claim maximum Universal Credit and have non-dependants. If neither applies there are other categories you could fall under that determines the amount of support you receive based on your earned/self-employed income and the household type that resembles you.

See our Am I Affected Step-by-Step Guide for a quick check on the category you fall under in the current scheme for 2024/25.

In April 2024, 8,200 working age households in Harrow were in receipt of CTS, that’s out of 96,000 households in the borough who are liable for Council Tax.

Since 2013, the council has provided a CTS scheme that helps working-age households on a low income. Some households get help with up to 86% of their Council Tax costs. 

The amount of money the council is spending on CTS is going up every year – it’s increased by £5 million in the last 9 years, and the council predicts it will spend more than £19 million on CTS next year if we don't implement the changes. The council can’t afford for this to keep going up in this way.

The changes are proposed so that CTS continues to support Harrow’s most vulnerable residents now and, in the future, but remains affordable for the council.

No decision has been made to make any of these changes – the results of this consultation will show us exactly how different people would be affected. We'll look very carefully at the results before making any decision. 

This consultation does not propose to make any changes to other council tax discounts or exemptions, such as single person discount. 

These will still be applied to your council tax before you are assessed for CTS.  

Your household would be classed as vulnerable if you, your partner or a dependant child* living in your household are receiving: 

•    Disability Living Allowance (any component); or 

•    Employment Support Allowance (Support group); or 

•    Incapacity Benefit; or 

•    Mobility Supplement; or 

•    Severe Disablement Allowance; or 

•    Personal Independence Payment; or  

•    Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP); or  

•    Have an invalid vehicle supplied by the National Health Service or gets Department of Work and Pensions payments for car running costs; or 

•    A disability banding reduction has been granted for your property; or 

•    You or your partner are registered blind; or 

•    Receive a War Pension;  

•    You or your partner have been awarded the Limited Capability for Work and Work related Activity (LCWRA) component within your Universal Credit award.  

*A dependant child is usually a person under 20 who you or your partner get Child Benefit for. 

These groups will continue to be classed as vulnerable under the new CTS scheme proposals and could still get help to cover up to 86 percent of their Council Tax bill. 

For all non-vulnerable households (who currently receive CTS) who live in a property Band E-H, it is proposed the rate of support will be ‘capped’ at the Band D rate. This means they will only get the same level of support as someone in a Band D property. 

This is so that those living in higher banded properties do not receive more than those living in lower banded properties, 

No decision has been made to make any of these changes – the results of this consultation will show us exactly how different people would be affected. We'll look very carefully at these results before making any decision.

See our Am I affected Step-by-Step Guide for examples of this proposed change. 

You can find out what your Council Tax band is by going to Gov.uk and searching ‘What is my Council Tax band’. 

Under the proposals all working age households who currently receive CTS and are not deemed to be vulnerable, will see their support level decrease. The maximum level of support, which is currently 70% would reduce to 50%. All of the rates currently below 70% would reduce proportionately.  There are also changes proposed if you live in a property valued at Band E or above, or if you have non-dependants living with you.  

No decision has been made to make any of these changes – the results of this consultation will show us exactly how different people would be affected. We'll look very carefully at these results before making any decision.

See our Am I affected Step by Step Guide for examples of this proposed change.

A non-dependant is an independent adult living in a household who is not a partner.  It could be someone like a grown-up child or older parent.

Non-dependants are normally expected to help pay toward the council tax.  A deduction is taken from the CTS depending on the non-dependant’s income. 

The non-dependant contribution to council tax has not taken account of inflation since 2020. In about 700 households there are other adults living with the person that receives CTS and a deduction is currently applied. 

Under the proposals we would ask these people to pay more towards the council tax bill in line with inflation to ensure that everyone in the household makes a fair contribution towards funding local services via the council tax.

This proposal would apply to all working-age households including those classed as vulnerable.

No decision has been made to make any of these changes – the results of this consultation will show us exactly how different people would be affected. We'll look very carefully at these results before making any decision.

See our Am I affected Step-by-Step Guide for examples of this proposed change.

It is a legal requirement to publish the draft CTS scheme setting out the proposed changes. This can be found on the council website, www.harrow.gov.uk search ‘Harrow Council Tax Support’. 

 If you are classed as vulnerable under the Council Tax Support proposals, you will receive up to 86% of your council tax charge less any deductions for non-dependants. 

If you are not classed as vulnerable and on maximum Universal Credit or receive other passported DWP benefits, the maximum you would receive is up to 50% less any deductions for non-dependants.  If you are in a Band E or above property the amount of council tax used in the calculation will be at Band D. You will receive up to 50% of a Band D council tax charge less any deductions for non-dependants.

If you have deductions for non-dependants you would see these rates increase.

If agreed, the changes will be applied to all affected households irrespective of whether they receive Universal Credit or not.  Most of the information we have provided about the changes refers to Universal Credit.  This is because by December 2025 all except around 100 working age CTS households are expected to have migrated to Universal Credit.  If you think you will be affected but do not expect to claim Universal Credit, come along to one of our events to talk to us. 

If these categories don’t apply, see our Am I affected Step-by-Step Guide for a quick check on the category you fall under in the new scheme proposals and compare to the current scheme.

No decision has been made to make any of these changes – the results of this consultation will show us exactly how different people would be affected. We'll look very carefully at these results before making any decision.

However, we realise that the proposed changes may be worrying for you.  As part of the proposed changes, we are looking at how we can help those households who would be most affected and want to hear of any other suggestions on what we could do to help. 

We are also available for you to come and talk to us to understand more about the proposed changes and what it might mean to you.  Come along to one of the consultation events to hear more. 

The Council continues to find itself in a tough financial position and we must look at how we are going to pay for services next year – and future years to reduce the £15.3 million deficit we’re facing.

 As part of that review, we’re looking at how we can make savings in all other services across the Council, including increasing Council Tax.

 The other areas of potential savings will be explored later this year as we begin the process of setting our annual budget.

 We’re consulting on the CTS scheme now because of the timescales involved should changes to the scheme be approved and implemented from April 2025.

 No decisions have been made yet on the CTS proposals. Councillors will look very carefully at the consultation results before making any decision. A decision may be taken to make no changes to the scheme.

This consultation is open until 27 October 2024. No decisions have been made to make any of these changes – the results of this consultation will show us exactly how different people would be affected. We'll look very carefully at these results before making any decision.

To have your say during the consultation period you can:

•    Fill in our online survey 

If others you know, or are representing require assistance, they can:

•    Pick up a paper survey from a library or our housing and social care customer centre at 6 Gayton Road, HA1 2FB. 

•    Phone Access Harrow on 020 8863 5611 if you are unable to pick up a form, or require a different format.

There are lots of opportunities to learn more about these proposals and see how you might be affected – no appointment needed, just drop in.

The events are listed under our Key Dates section:

• Tuesday 13 August, 10am-3pm: Conversation Café, St Peters Church, Sumner Road, HA1 4BX 

The consultation activity will include:

• Mailshot to all households receiving Council Tax Support
• Event with Voluntary and Community Sector groups
• Public drop-in events
• Online survey through MyHarrow Talk
• Hardcopy questionnaire
• Easy read version of consultation document
• Publicity e.g. posters in libraries
• Media articles including council website, Harrow online and LBH  email newsletters
• Consider how to approach people where language may be a barrier
• Video explanations
• General enquiry email box for consultation purpose

We have met with some representatives from the Voluntary and Community Sector in Harrow to explain the consultation, what the proposed changes could mean, and to seek their advice on the best way to engage with people affected.

Some of the organisations and groups we will engage with during the consultation include:

• Greater London Authority as preceptor
• Council Tax Support households
• Voluntary and community Sector organisations
• Harrow Together
• Voluntary Action Harrow
• Harrow VCS Forum
• Young Harrow Foundation
• Citizens Advice Harrow
• Harrow Association of Disabled People
• Harrow MENCAP
• MIND in Harrow
• Harrow Carers
• Harrow Association of Somali Voluntary Org
• Harrow Law Centre

Once the consultation period has ended the feedback will be collated and a public report presented at the council’s December Cabinet meeting.  If changes to the scheme are proposed, the new scheme would go to Council for approval. If changes to the scheme are approved, they would take effect from 1 April 2025. 

If implemented, this proposal would reduce the amount of Council Tax Support that all non-vulnerable households receive. The tables below show how Council Tax Support would be reduced if this proposal is implemented. 

This information is shown by household type and income. Tables show for each income band the proportion of the Council Tax bill covered currently and how much would be covered if this proposal is adopted next year.

Weekly net earned income is the net earnings from employment and/or self-employment used by DWP in the Universal Credit assessment.  It will be the total net earned income for the claimant and partner if there is one.

This information does not reflect the other proposed changes, which could see the overall amount of Council Tax Support reduced further if the claimant lives in a property in Bands E to H and lives with one or more non-dependent adults,

Single person without children

Couple without children

Lone parent with up to 2 children

Lone parent with 3 or more children

Couple with up to 2 children

Couple with 3 or more children

There are two rates of non-dependant deduction in the CTS Universal Credit scheme. The table below shows what they are now and what they would be increased to from April 2025 if the proposals were implemented.