Croydon Council has formally launched a public consultation on the future of its Council Tax Support scheme, opening a six-week window for residents, community groups and partners to shape financial help worth around £39 million a year for low-income households across the borough.
The consultation opened on Monday 29 September and will close at 11.59pm on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Any changes agreed as a result would come into effect from 1 April 2027, with recommendations due to be considered by Full Council in February 2027.
Council Tax Support helps people on low incomes pay their council tax bills. In 2025/26, around £39m was awarded through the Croydon scheme, including approximately £25m to working-age residents — making it one of the most significant forms of direct financial help the borough provides.
Each year the council is legally required to review the scheme and decide whether to keep the current arrangements or change them. This year’s review is also being carried out under the best value intervention the council is under, which requires it to scrutinise all spending within its control as part of efforts to repair its finances.
We reported last week on the proposed shake-up of the scheme, when the case for change was first set out. The launch of the consultation moves the process from proposals on paper to formal public input — and what residents say over the next six weeks will feed directly into the recommendations put to councillors.
What is on the table
The council is asking for views on a range of options, all centred on support for working-age residents. Support for pensioners is set by national government and cannot be changed by the council.
Among the options under review are the level of support available to different groups of residents, how income and savings are taken into account when assessing claims, updates to eligibility criteria, and changes to property band caps.
The consultation also includes proposals to provide additional support for Armed Forces veterans and for residents affected by any changes, alongside updates to some of the scheme’s administrative rules.
The council has acknowledged that some of the options would reduce the support available — including for some disabled residents. It says it will also examine the wider package of support on offer, arguing that Council Tax Support is not always the most effective form of help for everyone who receives it.
One reassurance has been offered: the council says it is not considering any changes that would leave support below the level provided by other London boroughs.
What the mayor said
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said: “We know that many residents rely on Council Tax Support and we remain committed to helping those who need it most. However, we also have a responsibility to ensure the scheme remains fair, affordable and sustainable in the long term.”
He added: “No decisions have been made to proposed changes to the scheme. We want to hear directly from residents, community groups and other partners before any proposals are considered further. I would encourage anyone who may be affected to take part in the consultation and share their views.”
How to have your say — step by step
Responding takes only a few minutes. Here is how to do it:
- Go to the consultation page at www.croydon.gov.uk/cts.
- Read through the options, which cover support levels, income and savings rules, eligibility, band caps and extra help for veterans.
- Complete the online questionnaire, setting out which options you support or oppose — and why.
- Submit your answers before 11.59pm on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Late responses cannot be counted.
- Share the link with neighbours, friends or community groups who may be affected, particularly anyone who is not regularly online.
Why the 10 November deadline matters
The six-week window is the only formal chance residents get to influence the proposals before council officers draw up final recommendations. Once the consultation closes, responses will be analysed and recommendations will go before Full Council in February 2027 — meaning views sent in after 10 November will arrive too late to shape the decision.
With around £39m a year flowing through the scheme, the outcome matters to low-income households across the borough. Anyone who currently receives support, or who might need it in future, is being urged to make their voice heard while the window is open.
What happens next
After the consultation closes, recommendations for the future of the scheme will be considered by Full Council in February 2027. If councillors approve changes, they would take effect from 1 April 2027.
This article is based on the official announcement from the council’s newsroom, news.croydon.gov.uk, which London Streets used as its primary source. For more on the background to the review, see our earlier reporting, as well as our coverage of the council’s four-year plan to cut temporary accommodation costs and its new landlord licensing schemes.
