Frequently Asked Questions: 2025-26 Council Tax Support working-age scheme

If you’re 18 or over and own or rent a home, you’ll usually need to pay Council Tax.

A full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in the property. If you are married or living with a partner, you are jointly responsible for paying the bill.

Certain people and properties may be exempt from paying Council Tax or eligible for a discount. For example, if you live on your own or are the only adult in your household, you can apply for the single person occupancy discount.

Find out more about who needs to pay Council Tax.

Council Tax Support is a local Council Tax discount shown as a reduction on your bill. It is designed to help low-income households pay Council Tax.

The amount of support you are entitled to depends on factors such as:

• your income
• your savings and investments
• your Council Tax band
• who else lives with you

Find out more about Council Tax Support

For many years, Brent has had one of the most generous Council Tax Support Schemes in London. Like the vast majority of local authorities, we are facing an extremely challenging financial situation and the level of support we have offered for years is no longer affordable or sustainable for the council.

On top of £218m in cuts made since 2010, Brent needs to save a further £16m in 2025-2026 to balance the budget.

In 2024, we reviewed the working-age Council Tax Support Scheme and held a public consultation on the proposed changes, which were formally approved in February 2025. These changes will help to protect and support vital services, while ensuring the scheme remains fair and directs support to those who need it most. The changes to the scheme are expected to generate substantial savings of around £5 million.

• All working-age households will now pay something towards their Council Tax. Households on the lowest incomes will pay a minimum of 35% of their total Council Tax bill.
• Households in other income bands will also pay more, as we have reduced the level of support across all income levels.
• If you have people living with you who are not dependents (for example, adult children or relatives), your support will also be reduced. This is because everyone is expected to contribute fairly to the funding of our community. The reduction will be:
  • £8 per week for non-dependents who are not working
  • £20 per week for non-dependents who are working

If you have had a recent change in your income or household circumstances your entitlement to Council Tax Support may have reduced.

A public consultation was held between October and December 2024. Letters were sent to all working-age Council Tax Support claimants inviting them to complete the questionnaire online or to request a paper copy to be sent to them. It was also shared with local organisations and advertised on the council website and across social media.

A non-dependant is a person over the age of 18 who lives in your home but is not your partner. This could be an adult child, a relative, friend or lodger.

Yes, you can still receive Council Tax Support even if you have non-dependants living with you. However, the amount of support you receive will be reduced based on the non-dependant deduction that applies. This is because it is assumed that non-dependants will contribute toward household expenses, including Council Tax.

Any adult who is under the age of 66. In the context of Council Tax Support, it means those who are not yet eligible for state pension benefits.

If you are getting Universal Credit Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, then you will receive the maximum support of 65% (minus any non-dependant deductions if you have another adult other than your partner living with you, for example, an adult son, daughter or relative).

The net income that you and your partner receive from employment or self-employment is considered. Net income is defined as gross income reduced by tax and national insurance contributions, and 50% of contributions to any occupational pension scheme.

All income from DWP and HMRC benefits (including all disability benefits) are ignored for the purpose of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme calculation.

You may be eligible for Council Tax Support if your savings are under £6,000. If have savings above £6,000 you will not be eligible for support.

This is because your Council Tax bill is based on information we held on 28 February 2025. You will receive a revised bill after 15 March 2025 detailing your new Council Tax charge for the year.

If your property remains empty for more than a year, you may be charged twice the normal Council Tax rate. 

Properties that have been empty for more than:

• 1 year: pay a 100% premium in addition to the 100% Council Tax charge.
• 5 years: pay a 200% premium in addition to the 100% Council Tax charge.
• 10 years: pay a 300% premium in addition to the 100% Council Tax charge.

From 1 April 2025 dwellings that are determined as second homes will be required to pay a 100% premium additional to the 100% Council Tax charge.

Yes, You can choose to spread your payments over 12 months instead of 10 months. You must advise us in advance that you want to do this. Your last instalment of each bill will always be made in the last month of the financial year, i.e. March.

To do this, register or log in to My Account

The best way to manage your Council Tax account is online.

Register or log in to My Account to:

• pay your Council Tax and set up a Direct Debit
• check your balance and payment history
• inform us of a change in circumstances
• apply for exemptions or discounts
• register for paperless billing.