Overview
- Independent Age’s report, published Monday, June 15, 2026, estimates up to £1.71 billion of council tax relief for pensioners is unclaimed and says 74,000 older households are kept in poverty by low take-up.
- Separate analysis from Policy in Practice finds council tax support is the most underclaimed benefit in England, with about 2.7 million people missing roughly £2.8 billion in support.
- Research from the University of Bath’s Institute for Policy Research shows there are 313 locally run council tax support schemes, which causes wide geographic variation in who qualifies and how much they receive.
- For low‑income pensioners who secure reductions, council tax can be cut by an average of £2,392 a year, but confusion over discounts versus reductions and weak publicity mean many people skip claims and cut essentials or fall into debt.
- Independent Age and researchers urge practical reforms such as ring‑fenced funding, simpler applications, targeted awareness drives, and consideration of a nationally designed system or integration with Universal Credit to reduce the postcode lottery.