Consultation on Sandwell Council’s 2025/26 Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Sandwell Council is currently considering whether any changes are needed to its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age applicants. This is something we do every year. No changes are being considered for people of pension age though, as they are covered by a separate national scheme.

Across Sandwell, around 29,600 Council Taxpayers currently receive Council Tax Reduction of whom 18,400 are of working age.

Currently, the total cost of the scheme is around £31.7 million with around £19 million supporting working age households. Due to the Council having to make savings, there is a need to reduce the costs of the scheme for working age applicants. These proposed changes will save the council something in the region of £1.7million. However, they would still leave Sandwell with a generous scheme when compared to neighbouring authorities.

For more information about the changes being considered, please visit the consultation hub website https://consultationhub.sandwell.gov.uk/     To give your opinion, complete the consultation questionnaire.  The consultation closes at midnight on 27 October 2024. If you do not have internet access, you can visit any Sandwell library where staff will be happy to either help you access the consultation on a library computer or print off the consultation for you.