Manchester residents are being asked their views on new proposals to increase Council Tax Support for the city’s poorest working-age households.
Under the city’s current Council Tax Support scheme, the Council will reduce the amount owed by a household by up to 100% for pension-age residents with the lowest incomes and up to 82.5% for working-age residents with the lowest incomes.
It is proposing that from April 2024 the maximum reduction for working-age residents is increased by 2.5% to 85% - meaning that the maximum those eligible for Council Tax Support would have to pay would be just 15% of the bill.
At the same time, it is proposed that rules allowing reductions to be backdated where someone has a good reason not to have claimed sooner are extended to allow up to a year’s back payments rather than up to six months as is currently the case.
It is estimated that these proposed changes would cost the Council around £770,000 in 2024/25.
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finance, said: “We are acutely aware that some residents are really struggling due to cost-of-living pressures which is why we’ve already introduced a range of measures to help people access food, advice and support.
“As part of this wider response, we want to go even further to help the poorest households in Manchester with their Council Tax and that’s what these proposals are all about. We’re keen to hear your views on what we’re suggesting before we make a final decision.”
The Council Tax Support scheme currently provides around one fifth of Manchester households with help paying their Council Tax.
The consultation runs from Monday 2 October until Sunday 12 November. It can be found here
Paper copies are also available in all libraries.