
2025 No. 59 (W. 17)
Council Tax, Wales
The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025
Made 22 January 2025
Coming into force 24 January 2025

The Welsh Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by section 13A(4) and (5) of, and paragraphs 2 to 6 of Schedule 1B to, the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

In accordance with section 13A(8) of that Act, a draft of this instrument has been laid before, and approved by, resolution of Senedd Cymru.
Title, coming into force, application and interpretation
1 

(1) The title of these Regulations is the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 24 January 2025.
(3) These Regulations apply in relation to a council tax reduction scheme made for a financial year beginning on or after 1 April 2025.
(4) In these Regulations—
 “billing authority” (“awdurdod bilio”) has the meaning given in section 1(2)(b) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (“the 1992 Act”);
 “council tax reduction scheme” (“cynllun gostyngiadau’r dreth gyngor”) means a scheme made by a billing authority in accordance with the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013, or the scheme that applies in default by virtue of paragraph 6(1)(e) of Schedule 1B to the 1992 Act.
Amendments to the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013
2 
The Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013 are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 11.
3 
In regulation 2(1) (interpretation)—
(a) in the definition of “qualifying person”, after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund,” insert “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme,”;
(b) after the definition of “vaccine damage payment” insert—“
 “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme” (“y Cynllun Digolledu Dioddefwyr Terfysgaeth Dramor”) means the scheme of that name established by the Ministry of Justice in 2012 under section 47 of the Crime and Security Act 2010;”.
4 
In regulation 28(5) (persons treated as not being in Great Britain)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (e)(ii), for “Destitution Domestic Violence concession” substitute “Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse concession”;
(b) after sub-paragraph (n) omit “or”;
(c) after sub-paragraph (o) insert—“
(p) a person in Great Britain who was residing in Sudan before 15 April 2023, left Sudan in connection with the violence which rapidly escalated on 15 April 2023 in Khartoum and across Sudan and—
(i) has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971,
(ii) has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning given in section 2 of that Act, or
(iii) does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act; or
(q) a person in Great Britain who was residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon immediately before 7 October 2023, left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon in connection with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 or the violence which rapidly escalated in the region following the attack and—
(i) has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971,
(ii) has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 2 of that Act, or
(iii) does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act.”
5 
In Schedule 1 (determining eligibility for a reduction: pensioners)—
(a) in paragraph 3(1)—
(i) in paragraph (a), for “£17.35” substitute “£18.70”;
(ii) in paragraph (b), for “£5.80” substitute “£6.25”;
(b) in paragraph 3(2)—
(i) in paragraph (a), for “£256.00” substitute “£266.00”;
(ii) in paragraph (b), for “£256.00”, “£445.00” and “£11.55” substitute “£266.00”, “£463.00” and “£12.45” respectively;
(iii) in paragraph (c), for “£445.00”, “£554.00” and “£14.50” substitute “£463.00”, “£577.00” and “£15.65” respectively;
(c) in paragraph 3(9)(c), after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund” insert “, the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme”;
(d) in paragraph 19(15)(c) (treatment of child care charges: pensioners), for “171ZZ” substitute “171ZZ6”;
(e) in paragraph 22(c) (disregard of changes in tax, contributions etc)—
(i) after “Class 1 contributions under that Act,” insert “or”;
(ii) in the English language text, omit “or the amount specified in section 11(4)(a) of that Act (lower profits threshold in relation to Class 2 contributions)”;
(iii) in the Welsh language text, omit “neu’r swm a bennir yn adran 11(4) o’r Ddeddf honno (trothwy elw isel mewn perthynas â chyfraniadau Dosbarth 2)”;
(f) in paragraph 24(3) (calculation of deduction of tax and contributions of self-employed earners), omit paragraph (a) and the “and” after it.
6 
In Schedule 2 (applicable amounts: pensioners)—
(a) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 1 (personal allowance)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£235.20” substitute “£244.40”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£352.00” substitute “£366.00”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£352.00” and “£116.80” substitute “£366.00” and “£121.60” respectively;
(b) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 2(1) (child or young person amounts), for “£83.24”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£84.66”;
(c) in paragraph 3 (family premium), for “£19.15” substitute “£19.48”;
(d) in the second column (amount) of the Table in paragraph 12 (amounts of premium specified in Part 3)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£81.50”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£82.90” and for “£163.00” substitute “£165.80”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£32.20” substitute “£32.75”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£80.01” substitute “£81.37”;
(iv) in sub-paragraph (4), for “£45.60” substitute “£46.40”.
7 
In Schedule 5 (capital disregards: pensioners), in paragraph 16(1)(a), after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund,” insert “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme,”.
8 
In Schedule 6 (determining eligibility for a reduction: persons who are not pensioners)—
(a) in paragraph 5(1)—
(i) in paragraph (a), for “£17.35” substitute “£18.70”;
(ii) in paragraph (b), for “£5.80” substitute “£6.25”;
(b) in paragraph 5(2)—
(i) in paragraph (a), for “£256.00” substitute “£266.00”;
(ii) in paragraph (b), for “£256.00”, “£445.00” and “£11.55” substitute “£266.00”, “£463.00” and “£12.45” respectively;
(iii) in paragraph (c), for “£445.00”, “£554.00” and “£14.50” substitute “£463.00”, “£577.00” and “£15.65” respectively;
(c) in paragraph 5(9)(b), after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund” insert “, the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme”;
(d) in paragraph 21(15)(c) (treatment of child care charges), for “171ZZ” substitute “171ZZ6”;
(e) in paragraph 23(c) (disregard of changes in tax, contributions etc)—
(i) after “Class 1 contributions under that Act,” insert “or”;
(ii) in the English language text, omit “or the amount specified in section 11(4)(a) of that Act (lower profits threshold in relation to Class 2 contributions)”;
(iii) in the Welsh language text, omit “neu’r swm a bennir yn adran 11(4) o’r Ddeddf honno (trothwy elw isel mewn perthynas â chyfraniadau Dosbarth 2)”;
(f) in paragraph 25(3) (calculation of deduction of tax and contributions of self-employed earners), omit paragraph (a) and the “and” after it.
9 
In Schedule 7 (applicable amounts: persons who are not pensioners)—
(a) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 1 (personal allowances)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£96.45”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£98.10” and for “£76.35” substitute “£77.65”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£96.45” substitute “£98.10”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£151.45” substitute “£154.00”;
(b) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 3(1), for “£83.24”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£84.66”;
(c) in paragraph 4(1)(b) (family premium), for “£19.15” substitute “£19.48”;
(d) in the second column (amount) of the Table in paragraph 17 (amounts of premiums specified in Part 3)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£42.50” and “£60.60” substitute “£43.20” and “£61.65” respectively;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£81.50”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£82.90” and for “£163.00” substitute “£165.80”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£80.01” substitute “£81.37”;
(iv) in sub-paragraph (4), for “£45.60” substitute “£46.40”;
(v) in sub-paragraph (5), for “£32.20”, “£20.85” and “£29.75” substitute “£32.75”, “£21.20” and “£30.25” respectively;
(e) in paragraph 23, for “£35.95” substitute “£36.55”;
(f) in paragraph 24, for “£47.70” substitute “£48.50”.
10 
In Schedule 10 (capital disregards: persons who are not pensioners), in paragraph 29(1) after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund,” insert “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme,”.
11 
In Schedule 12 (all applicants: matters that must be included in an authority’s scheme — procedural matters), after paragraph 7 insert—“
Applications: universal credit claimants
7A. 
An application may be treated as made where—
(a) a person has made a claim for universal credit,
(b) the Secretary of State has supplied relevant information in relation to that person in accordance with section 131 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 to the authority administering a council tax reduction, and
(c) that person is liable to pay council tax to that authority.”
Amendments to the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (Wales) Regulations 2013
12 
The scheme set out in the Schedule to the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Default Scheme) (Wales) Regulations 2013 is amended in accordance with regulations 13 to 23.
13 
In paragraph 2(1) (interpretation)—
(a) in the definition of “qualifying person”, after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund,” insert “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme,”;
(b) after the definition of “vaccine damage payment” insert—“
 “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme” (“y Cynllun Digolledu Dioddefwyr Terfysgaeth Dramor”) means the scheme of that name established by the Ministry of Justice in 2012 under section 47 of the Crime and Security Act 2010;”.
14 
In paragraph 19(5) (class of person excluded from this scheme: persons treated as not being in Great Britain)—
(a) in paragraph (e)(ii) for “Destitution Domestic Violence concession” substitute “Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse concession”;
(b) at the end of paragraph (n) omit “or”;
(c) after paragraph (o) insert—“
(p) a person in Great Britain who was residing in Sudan before 15 April 2023, left Sudan in connection with the violence which rapidly escalated on 15 April 2023 in Khartoum and across Sudan and—
(i) has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971,
(ii) has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning given in section 2 of that Act, or
(iii) does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act; or
(q) a person in Great Britain who was residing in Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon immediately before 7 October 2023, left Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Lebanon in connection with the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 or the violence which rapidly escalated in the region following the attack and—
(i) has been granted leave in accordance with immigration rules made under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971,
(ii) has a right of abode in the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 2 of that Act, or
(iii) does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in accordance with section 3ZA of that Act.”
15 
In paragraph 28 (non-dependant deductions: pensioners and persons who are not pensioners)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—
(i) in paragraph (a), for “£17.35” substitute “£18.70”;
(ii) in paragraph (b), for “£5.80” substitute “£6.25”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (2)—
(i) in paragraph (a), for “£256.00” substitute “£266.00”;
(ii) in paragraph (b), for “£256.00”, “£445.00” and “£11.55” substitute “£266.00”, “£463.00” and “£12.45” respectively;
(iii) in paragraph (c), for “£445.00”, “£554.00” and “£14.50” substitute “£463.00”, “£577.00” and “£15.65” respectively;
(c) in sub-paragraph (9)(b), after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund” insert “, the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme”.
16 
In paragraph 55(15)(c) (treatment of child care charges), for “171ZZ” substitute “171ZZ6”.
17 
In paragraph 57(c) (disregard of changes in tax, contributions etc)—
(a) after “Class 1 contributions under that Act,” insert “or”;
(b) in the English language text, omit “or the amount specified in section 11(4)(a) of that Act (lower profits threshold in relation to Class 2 contributions)”;
(c) in the Welsh language text, omit “neu’r swm a bennir yn adran 11(4) o’r Ddeddf honno (trothwy elw isel mewn perthynas â chyfraniadau Dosbarth 2)”.
18 
In paragraph 59(3) (calculation of deduction of tax and contributions of self-employed earners), omit paragraph (a) and the “and” after it.
19 
In Schedule 1 (procedural matters), after paragraph 7 insert—“
Applications: universal credit claimants
7A. 
An application may be treated as made where—
(a) a person has made a claim for universal credit,
(b) the Secretary of State has supplied relevant information in relation to that person in accordance with section 131 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 to the authority administering a council tax reduction, and
(c) that person is liable to pay council tax to that authority.”
20 
In Schedule 2 (applicable amounts: pensioners)—
(a) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 1 (personal allowance)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£235.20” substitute “£244.40”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£352.00” substitute “£366.00”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£352.00” and “£116.80” substitute “£366.00” and “£121.60” respectively;
(b) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 2(1) (child or young person amounts), for “£83.24”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£84.66”;
(c) in paragraph 3 (family premium), for “£19.15” substitute “£19.48”;
(d) in the second column (amount) of the Table in paragraph 12 (amounts of premium specified in Part 3)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£81.50” in both places it occurs, substitute “£82.90” and for “£163.00” substitute “£165.80”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£32.20” substitute “£32.75”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£80.01” substitute “£81.37”;
(iv) in sub-paragraph (4), for “£45.60” substitute “£46.40”.
21 
In Schedule 3 (applicable amounts: persons who are not pensioners)—
(a) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 1 (personal allowances)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£96.45”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£98.10” and for “£76.35” substitute “£77.65”;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£96.45” substitute “£98.10”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£151.45” substitute “£154.00”;
(b) in column (2) of the Table in paragraph 3(1) (amount), for “£83.24”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£84.66”;
(c) in paragraph 4(1)(b) (family premium), for “£19.15” substitute “£19.48”;
(d) in the second column (amount) of the Table in paragraph 17 (amount of premiums specified in Part 3)—
(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “£42.50” and “£60.60” substitute “£43.20” and “£61.65” respectively;
(ii) in sub-paragraph (2), for “£81.50”, in both places it occurs, substitute “£82.90” and for “£163.00” substitute “£165.80”;
(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), for “£80.01” substitute “£81.37”;
(iv) in sub-paragraph (4), for “£45.60” substitute “£46.40”;
(v) in sub-paragraph (5), for “£32.20”, “£20.85” and “£29.75” substitute “£32.75”, “£21.20” and “£30.25” respectively;
(e) in paragraph 23, for “£35.95” substitute “£36.55”;
(f) in paragraph 24, for “£47.70” substitute “£48.50”.
22 
In Schedule 8 (capital disregards: pensioners), in paragraph 16(1)(a), after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund,” insert “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme,”.
23 
In Schedule 9 (capital disregards: persons who are not pensioners), in paragraph 29(1), after “the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund,” insert “the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme,”.
Mark Drakeford
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, one of the Welsh Ministers
22 January 2025