Info

Consultation opened on 10th Sept - 22nd Oct 2026

Revenues & Benefits Statement received:

Further clarification in regards to the below, as council tax support is classed as a discount on the taxbase, the proposed removal of child benefit as an income in the calculation of council tax support for working age people, will mean an increased award of council tax support, and therefore a reduced taxbase for 2027-28 onwards. We do not know exact amounts at this time but feel you should be aware of the implications in case this altered any response you may wish to give.

We have been looking at our council tax support scheme for 2027/28 and as part of this we are proposing to disregard child benefit as an income.

In 2013 Shropshire Council took the decision to remove the child benefit income disregard.  This change was detrimental to low-income families with children as it meant that a lot of families were suddenly paying an increased amount towards their council tax liability due to receiving an income which is paid to assist in supporting their child's needs.

We're now proposing to change our scheme for 2027 onwards, to disregard child benefit as an income in our calculation for council tax support. This change will benefit low-income families with children as it will result in a reduced council tax liability, as the income used in the calculation will be lower. This will allow them to have more money to support their household. We see this as a very positive change for Shropshire residents by helping those who are more financially vulnerable. 

If you would like to share your views on this proposal, you can do so here Council Tax Support Scheme - 2027 onwards | Get Involved - Shropshire Council Consultation Portal