Council Tax Support Scheme Faqs

FAQs

1. Why have I received this email/letter about my Council Tax Support claim?

• Letters have been issued to all current Council Tax Support claimants as awareness that the current Council Tax Support scheme is changing to a new banded scheme from 1 April 2025
• The Council have tried hard to make sure most people continue to get the same amount of support. However, there are small number of residents who will receive less support, and they will be contacted directly
• The new Council Tax Support Income banded scheme aims to make it simpler, easier, and quicker for claimants to understand and get the help they need
• Benefit notification letters will be sent to you in March 2025 alongside the new Council Tax bills which will details how much Council Tax Support will be received and how much Council Tax you have to pay
• If you have any questions, please contact the Benefit Service by telephone 0161 342 3708 or email: benefitsteam@tameside.gov.uk with your claim reference and contact details

2. Did Tameside residents have their say in the changes?

• A public consultation ran from 1 August 2024 to 31 October 2025 with the majority of responses agreeing to the proposed changes. Below is a link of the Board Report, which was approved by Executive Cabinet, which details the changes to the 2025/26 Council Tax Support Scheme on 29 January 2025

           CTS scheme182555/ITEM 2025-2026_.pdf 

3. I am a pensioner will my Council Tax Support change? 

• Pension age claims are not affected, the change is for working age claimants only

4. How is my entitlement worked out?

The main aspects of the Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/2026 for working age claimants are: 

• A maximum reduction of 75% of a Band A council tax charge
• A maximum of 2 children will be factored in when we calculate your entitlement 
• If you have more than £6000 in savings and/or capital, you will not qualify 
• There are no non-dependant deductions on working age claims
• There are four income bands (see Appendix 1 below) which shows how much discount will be given for each net income band 
• The total net income of each household is assessed and is worked out after all disregards and premiums are applied (see Appendix 2 below)
• The amount of discount will not change unless your income changes and it puts you in a different band
• You only need to inform the Benefit Service of a change in your income if it increases or decreases by more than £50 per week
• If you have given Universal Credit permission to share your information with the Council, you do not need to submit a new claim or supply proof of your award.

5. I have been advised by letter that my Council Tax Support has reduced, and I cannot afford my Council Tax, what can I do?

• If your Council Tax Support entitlement has reduced or you are no longer entitled due to the changes in the new scheme and you will experience financial difficulty paying the new Council Tax payments as detailed on your 2025/26 bill, you can contact the Benefits Service on 0161 342 3708 to discuss the support available or email ctshardship@tameside.gov.uk making sure you provide your claim reference and contact details and one of our team will get in touch to discuss how we can best support you. 
• You can apply for an exceptional hardship payment. A hardship payment can be applied for by completing the form on our website:

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Council Tax Support - Tameside MBC

CTS hardship payment online form

• You will be asked to provide proof of your income and expenditure as evidence with the form. All applications will be dealt with on an individual case-by case basis, considering available income and essential outgoings.
• If help is required with the form email ctshardship@tameside.gov.uk providing your claim reference and contact details

6. What do I need to provide to claim Council Tax Support?

• Claimants will be required to complete an application form provide your National Insurance number which will be verified and used as proof of ID: 

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Council Tax Support - Tameside MBC

• If you are in receipt of Universal Credit and have registered your interest with the DWP for them to share their data with us, do not need to complete an application form as we will receive a new claim file from DWP and will be notified of any future UC income changes 
• You will be contacted if any of the information provided on the application form needs to be verified or any further evidence is required 
• There are no non-dependant deductions so proof of income for any additional adults are not required but their details will be required for Council Tax purposes and future changes

7. What date will my Council Tax Support be paid from?

• CTS is calculated by day, so it is awarded from the date the application form was received or if moved in within week of start date of liability 
• Back dates may be considered up to one month 

8. What changes do I need to tell the Benefits Service about?

• Please tell us within 21 days of the change for us to apply it from the date of change via the link below:

REPORT a Change in your Circumstances

• Changes in your household
• Change of address
• Change in income by £50 up or down (unless we already receive Universal Credit changes for your Council Tax Support claim)

9. The capital limit has changed but my savings have gone under £6000, what do I need to do?

• The capital limit for the new scheme has changed to £6000, if your savings are below this, complete a COCs form and send proof i.e. bank statements within 21 days of the change

           REPORT a Change in your Circumstances

Appendix 1

Income Bands

The maximum reduction is 75% of the charge for a Band A dwelling.

Table 1

Weekly Net Income

Appendix 2

Specific income disregards

Where any of the following conditions apply (column 1 and 3) the amount specified in column 2 will be disregarded from the calculation of income of the applicant or partner when calculating the level of support: