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The Council Tax Reduction (CTR) schemes reduce the amount of Council Tax that low income households have to pay to the council.

When the national Council Tax Benefit (CTB) scheme was abolished in April 2013 all councils had the freedom to design their own schemes for working age households, although the rules for pensioners remained the same.

As part of this change the funding received from the government to support these schemes was also cut.

This means the council has had to make some very difficult decisions about the amount of help it can make available to residents on low income. Over the last few years it has become necessary to cut the level of support that the council has been able to afford.

Most working age households that receive Council Tax Reduction (CTR) will have to pay at least 23% of their full council tax liability for their property. Pensioner households receiving CTR will continue to be protected from the changes to the scheme, under government regulations.

However, some care leavers under the age of 25 could have their council tax reduced to zero.

Details on how to apply for Council Tax Reduction or report a change in your circumstances are below: