Harlow Council introduces a new scheme to assist residents on low incomes with their council tax bills
Harlow: The council is rolling out a new Council Tax Reduction Scheme aimed at helping those who are working but still struggling financially. This new plan is set to kick in before April 2026.
Last year, they asked locals for their thoughts on the current support system. The feedback led to changes that will provide more assistance to those with the lowest incomes. Plus, it’ll be simpler to navigate.
Every year, the council reviews how to support working-age residents with their Council Tax. Good news for pensioners, though—there won’t be any changes for them since they’re covered by a national scheme.
Right now, about 6,159 people in Harlow benefit from this support, with nearly 4,000 of them being working-age adults. The funding comes from various local authorities, including Essex County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Currently, the support totals around £6.7 million, with about £3.9 million going to working-age households. The new scheme will bump that up to around £7.2 million, with about £4.4 million aimed at helping working-age families.
So, what’s changing? The new scheme will be easier to understand, work better with Universal Credit, support families with disabilities, and reduce the need for constant adjustments. Overall, it’s designed to be more manageable.
The council gave the green light for these changes during a meeting in December 2024. They’re taking their time to ensure everything is set up right before the rollout.
Councillor James Leppard, who oversees finance, shared his thoughts: “We’re committed to improving our support scheme. It’s crucial that those on the lowest incomes get the help they need, and we’re excited about these changes.”
