Written Statement (Wales): The Laying of the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 - Dec 10

Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Today, I have laid the draft Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 before the Senedd.

Subject to the approval of the Senedd, these Regulations will uprate the financial figures in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013 and the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (Wales) Regulations 2013.  This will ensure that the scheme is in place for the 2025-26 financial year and is up-rated to reflect changes in the cost of living, maintaining entitlements for almost 260,000 low-income households across Wales who rely on this support. 

In addition, to make the scheme easier to access and simpler to administer this year, we have ensured it is made clear in the Regulations that a person in receipt of Universal Credit, may be recognised by a local authority as having made an application for a council tax reduction.

Further amendments ensure displaced persons from Sudan, Israel, Palestine or Lebanon are eligible to apply for a council tax reduction. 

Finally, the Regulations ensure no applicant living in Wales is negatively impacted because they have received a payment made under the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme.

I look forward to the debate on the Regulations early next year.