Record low number of Wirral pensioners received council tax support

The Independent Age charity said the system is “too difficult to navigate” and called on the government and local authorities to create a simpler process, so everyone entitled to the support could easily get it.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show 11,184 pensioners in Wirral received council tax support in the three months to December 2023 – down from 11,448 the same time the year before and the lowest number since records began in 2015.

Overall, the total number of pensioners receiving the support dropped to a record low of 1.37 million, following a gradual decrease over the years since 2015, when around half a million more pensioners claimed it between October and November.

 Morgan Vine, head of policy and influencing at Independent Age, said for older people on a low income, council tax reduction could mean the difference between affording food and heat, or risking their health.

She said: “Many people in later life told us they had struggled to keep up with their council tax bill last year, yet we know that awareness of the support available - for those living in financial hardship - to reduce this bill remains low.”

She also said the charity’s own research found many people were confused by the complexity of the council tax system.

“Ultimately this leads to eligible people missing out on available financial support,” she added.

“With the company Policy in Practice estimating that only 62% of people of all ages who are eligible for council tax reduction actually receive it, we are calling on the UK Government and local authorities to work together to create more automated processes so that everyone over pension age who is entitled to council tax reduction gets it.”

Another 2.34 million working age adults received the support across England, including 18,328 in Wirral.

Meanwhile, millions of households across the country are expected to see an increase in their council tax bills in April.

Local authorities across England collected £10.6 billion in the three months to December 2023, which was 6.5% more than the same time the previous year.

In Wirral, the council took £56.6 million through council tax – up 6.2% from £53.3 million in the third quarter of 2022.

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: “There are a range of factors that could affect a pensioner’s eligibility for council tax support.

"In Wirral, we have tried to simplify the process of making an application as much as possible and will always try to support a resident who thinks they might be eligible to make a claim but needs help to do.

"Support and advice on benefits and other issues is also available from a range of local organisations – details can be found at https://www.wirralinfobank.co.uk/.”