Council Tax Reduction for almost half a million Scots

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released the latest Council Tax Reduction (CTR) estimates. In December 2018, Scotland’s Council Tax Reduction scheme supported 473,410 households and the total weekly income foregone by local authorities was £6.4 million.

The total number of CTR recipients in December 2018 was 14.3 per cent less (78,970 recipients) than it was at the beginning of the scheme in April 2013. Generally, the decline in the number of recipients has been gradual over this period. However, increases of and reform to Council Tax and CTR in April 2017 and a further increase in Council Tax in April 2018 led to some additional increases in income forgone. Furthermore, the roll out of Universal Credit in the period being reported looks to have led to the recent fluctuations observed in CTR caseload and income foregone.  

Background

The full statistical publication is available here: Council Tax Reduction in Scotland - October to December 2018

This publication contains figures on Council Tax Reduction recipients and income foregone by local authorities, covering the time period from October to December 2018. Statistics for each month from April 2013 are available at:

Council Tax Reduction in Scotland - Caseload and Income Foregone - April 2013 to December 2018

The information published is used by The Scottish Government, CoSLA and councils to monitor the number of people receiving Council Tax Reduction and the amounts being spent on the scheme. The figures are used to help allocate funding for future years.

Tables showing Council Tax Reduction recipients and income foregone in each local authority is published for each quarter in 2018-19. An annual compendium publication will be published in June 2019 covering the period from April 2018 to March 2019 and will include detailed information on Council Tax Reduction recipients and their characteristics.

Further information on Council Tax Reduction statistics, including previous publications can be accessed at:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Local-Government-Finance/CTR

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/About