Council Tax Support Fund

Recognising the impact of rising bills, the government will be distributing £100 million of new grant funding in 2023-24 for local authorities to support economically vulnerable households in their area with council tax payments.

The government expects local authorities to use the majority of their funding allocations to reduce bills for current working age and pension age Council Tax Reduction recipients by up to £25.

The discount should apply to current Council Tax Reduction recipients that have an outstanding council tax liability for the 2023-24 financial year. Where a taxpayer’s liability for 2023-24 is, following the application of Council Tax Reduction, less than £25, then their liability would be reduced to nil. Where a taxpayer’s liability for 2023-24 is nil, no reduction to the council tax bill will be available.  There is no need to make a claim for this support.  If a resident is in receipt of Council Tax Reduction, the additional support will automatically be added to your annual Council Tax bill that will be dated 10 March 2023. 

Discretionary Council Tax Support Fund

It is for local authorities to decide how to treat households that become eligible for Council Tax Reduction during the financial year.  Ashford Borough Council have decided to provide up to £25 of additional support, to any resident who becomes newly entitled to Council Tax Reduction, throughout the financial year 2023-24, until the fund runs out.

For more information, view our Council Tax Support Fund Policy [pdf] 166KB.