Many English councils are currently launching changes to their Council Tax Reduction (CTR) schemes, as has been in their power since localisation of the policy in 2013. It is one of the most powerful levers councils have to protect residents on low incomes. However, broader budget pressures are making it increasingly difficult for councils to maintain support.
The generosity of council tax support has fallen significantly since localisation. New analysis by Policy in Practice finds that the £4.9 billion of support provided in 2025 is 20% less in real terms than the support provided back in 2012/13 . The number of households supported by the policy has fallen by a quarter from 5 million to 3.7 million.
