Council Tax Reduction for Care Leavers in Walsall

If you are a qualifying care leaver under 25 who was in the care of Walsall Council, you may owe nothing at all on your council tax. Walsall gives qualifying care leavers a 100% council tax discount — bypassing the 75% cap that applies to other working-age residents.

Who Qualifies

You qualify for the care leaver discount in Walsall if you meet both conditions:

1. You are under 25 years old
2. You were a former "relevant child" under Walsall Council's corporate care. If you are unsure whether your status qualifies, ask the council to confirm.

The discount applies regardless of your income, savings, or employment status. You do not need to pass the income-band test or meet the £6,000 capital limit that applies to the standard working-age CTR scheme. The 100% discount wipes out your entire council tax liability.

How It Differs from Standard CTR

Standard working-age Council Tax Reduction in Walsall caps the maximum discount at 75%, leaving a 25% minimum payment. The care leaver discount goes further — it reduces your liability to zero. This is a deliberate policy choice by Walsall Council, using its discretionary powers under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, to support young people transitioning out of care.

The care-leaver discount is separate from the standard income-banded CTR calculation. Contact the council to confirm your status and how the discount will be applied; do not assume you need a standard CTR income-band assessment.

Once you turn 25, the care leaver discount ends and you become subject to the standard working-age CTR scheme. At that point, your income, savings, and household composition determine whether you qualify and at what level.

How to Apply

Your leaving-care personal adviser should help you set this up when you move into independent accommodation. If it has not happened — perhaps you have been billed in error, or you moved to a new property and the discount was not carried over — contact Walsall Council directly:

• Phone: 0300 555 2855
• Email: [email protected]
• In person: through any Walsall Connected community hub

The council verifies your care-leaver status through its own Children's Services records. You should not need to provide extensive evidence, but having your former social worker's name or your leaving-care reference number speeds things up.

If You Have Already Paid

If you have been paying council tax when you may have qualified for the care-leaver discount, ask the council to review the period from which it should apply and correct your account if appropriate.

Approaching 25

The transition at 25 catches many care leavers off guard. One month you owe nothing; the next, you are liable for at least 25% of a full council tax bill. If your income is low, contact Walsall Council before your birthday to ask how and when to apply for standard Council Tax Reduction.

Our Walsall Council Tax Reduction guide covers the full working-age CTR scheme, including the income bands and capital rules you will need to navigate once the care leaver discount ends.

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