Accessibility Skip to main content

Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27 consultation

Have your say on the proposed changes of the Council Tax Support Scheme.

We want your views on a proposed change to the Council Tax Support Scheme starting in April 2026. This is part of several consultations this autumn, including our 2025 Residents’ Satisfaction Survey.

We propose to increase the support given to some single parent families. These are families:

  • who currently receive less than the maximum levels of support and
  • where children are at risk of higher levels of poverty.

Council Tax Support is a discount scheme that helps households on low incomes pay their Council Tax bill. The proposed plan would use the same income bands for both single parents and couples with children. This would give single parents the same level of support as couples with children, helping families deal with welfare cuts and rising household costs.

We have launched an online survey and we have also written to:

  • households who receive Council Tax Support
  • a random sample of households that do not receive Council Tax Support

We will also have paper copies of the surveys available out our Residents’ Satisfaction Survey Roadshows. People of Torbay are asked if they agree with the proposed change or if they want the Council Tax Support Scheme to stay the same as before.

The consultation closes on Tuesday 4 November 2025.

Right now, single parents who don’t get the full 75% Council Tax discount get less discount than couples with children on the same income band.

The table below shows the current income bands for single parents and couples with children for the financial year ending 31 March 2026. You can find more details in the Draft Council Tax Support Scheme and in the survey.

Level of discount Single and 1 child Single and 2 children or more Couple and 1 child Couple and 2 children or more
To receive a 75% discount £0 to £179 £0 to £261 £0 to £234 £0 to £316
To receive a 55% discount £179.01 to £220 £261.01 to £302 £234.01 to £275 £316.01 to £356
To receive a 40% discount £220.01 to £261 £302.01 to £342 £275.01 to £316 £356.01 to £397
To receive a 20% discount £261.01 to £302 £342.01 to £383 £316.01 to £356 £397.01 to £438
0% discount £301.01 or more £383.01 or more £356.01 or more £438.01 or more

Find all our consultations, including the 2025 Residents’ Satisfaction Survey.

Contact Consultation