Camden’s Cabinet is proposing to extend one of the country’s most progressive Council Tax Support schemes for a sixth year to help the borough’s residents and families on low incomes and difficult circumstances.
Under the plans, more than 22,200 Camden residents would receive either full or partial Council Tax support through an investment of £35m. Around 16,100 Camden households in the greatest need, including over 6,900 pensioners, would not pay any Council Tax at all.
The level of support will be in line with the increase in London Living Wage, so more people will be eligible for a full or partial discount, and some people won’t lose out if they have received a pay rise.
The proposed scheme will be debated by full Council on 19 January and, if approved, would take effect from 1 April 2026.
It was also discussed at the Cabinet meeting at Camden Town Hall this Wednesday (10 December) that the discount class for terminally ill residents facing financial difficulty would be explicitly written into the scheme.
Research from Marie Curie shows more people are dying in poverty – an increase from 94,000 to 110,000 nationwide from 2022 to 2023.
Camden’s Council Tax support scheme includes a 100% discount eligible for households experiencing financial hardship with a terminally ill resident. This support has been available under “exceptional circumstances”, but with this new recognition the Council hopes to raise awareness of the discount class to residents, hospitals and GPs – encouraging those who are eligible to come forward and claim the support they are entitled to.
Councillor Camron Aref-Adib, Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living said:
“We’re proud to invest £35m to extend our Council Tax Support scheme for over 22,000 residents who are facing financial difficulty – and we’re clear that this includes households with a terminally ill person, whether they are already struggling financially or are pushed into it as a result.
“Budget pressures continue to be felt in local government nationwide, but today we are proud to be one of the few councils offering up to a 100% reduction in Council Tax. We want our residents to know that when times are tough, the Council and its partners are here to support them.”
Residents can find out more about Camden’s Council Tax support scheme, including whether they are eligible, at www.camden.gov.uk/council-tax-support
Camden Council has invested in a range of other help and support to residents with the continuing cost of living crisis including:
£2m Cost of Living Crisis Fund
£4m Household Support funding to support families with children through school holidays, and providing financial help to pensioner households in partnership with Age UK
£4m per year allocated to grant funding for the voluntary and community sector
Residents can find out more about accessing money from these funds or what support they may be eligible for by visiting the Camden website, by calling the council on 020 7974 4444 (option 9), or by calling Citizens Advice Camden on 0808 278 7835.
