Council Tax Support

The Council Tax Support scheme helps people towards the cost of their Council Tax bill.

Our scheme has remained unchanged since 2013. We want to make the scheme easier for residents to understand, with fewer changes to Council Tax for those who work on low incomes. We also want to make it easier and cheaper to run.

We’ve proposed some changes which will also bring our scheme in line with other councils across the Liverpool City Region.

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The figures set out in the Council Tax Support scheme have been uprated, to take effect from 1 April 2024.

The amount of uprating has been determined by Wirral Council and link as closely to other welfare benefit changes or may be linked to the consumer price index, of inflation set in the preceding September or by another rate determined with reference to provisions made for Universal Credit.

From 1 April 2019, an additional provision was made to enable backdating in exceptional circumstances for a maximum period of 3 months.

Who can get Council Tax Support?

To qualify for Council Tax Support you must be:

on a low income
the person responsible for paying the Council Tax

When you make a claim for Universal Credit we will use your Universal Credit award notification to work out how much Council Tax Support you may be entitled to.

If you start receiving Universal Credit again, after a change in your circumstances and you need help to pay your Council Tax, you will also need to make a claim for Council Tax Support.

Council Tax Support is calculated by looking at you and your partner’s income, savings and household circumstances.

Proof you will need when you apply for Council Tax Support

When you apply for Council Support you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are eligible.

Find out what proof you need to provide

Apply for Council Tax Support

Currently, a helpline is available for those who might need help filling in or making applications. If you need help with your application, please phone the One Stop Shops team.

How much am I entitled to?

The maximum amount of Council Tax Support that you can receive is:

up to 88% of your Council Tax liability for working age people
up to 100% of your Council Tax liability for people who have reached pensionable age and certain vulnerable groups

The amount of support you will get is worked out by looking at:

how much money you have coming in
you and your partner’s personal circumstances and those of your household
the amount of Council Tax you have to pay
the amount of savings and capital you have

You will not be able to claim Council Tax Support if:

you and your partner are of working age, not classed as vulnerable and have savings or capital over £6,000 or
you, and your partner are pension age and have savings or capital over £16,000, and not are not receiving Guaranteed Pension Credit