Last year, the council slashed support for low-income residents, who now pay as much as 43% of their total tax bill, up from 15% previously, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

The council tax support scheme for struggling residents in Waltham Forest will be unchanged in the coming year.

Labour councillors voted to continue the scheme into 2026/27 at a full council meeting last night (11th December), two months ahead of the local budget.

This time last year, the council made sweeping cuts to the levels of support residents could receive.

In 2024/25, working-age residents on low incomes would pay as little as 15% of their council tax. Under the changes, they now pay as much as 43%.

How much support a resident can claim depends on their level of income, the make-up of their household, how much capital they hold, and whether they fall into a protected group, such as a household with “limited capability to work” or with children aged five or under.

There are now 9,025 working-aged households receiving support under the council’s scheme.

Council leader Grace Williams said at the time it would save the town hall £2.23million.

The council was then facing a “deep” financial crisis in the form of a £23m budget gap. Its situation has only worsened – in September this year, the town hall projected an overspend of £31m.

Next year, the scheme will cost around £19.53m – an increase of £930,000. This increase will be factored into any potential council tax rises, the town hall says.

On top of continuing the scheme, the council has also allocated £750,000 to a discretionary hardship fund, aimed at the most vulnerable residents.

Conservative group leader Councillor Emma Best asked for the proposals to be delayed to allow for “more detailed” scrutiny.

She called last year’s cuts “substantial” and said “many members across the chamber felt uncomfortable about”. The Endlebury ward councillor said the financial situation had “only got harder for the most vulnerable families in our borough”.

Councillor Paul Douglas, the cabinet member for finance who formally proposed the policy, rejected the amendment as the council “does not have time” to go through the necessary period of public consultation.

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