Funding announced to tackle council tax debt in Scotland

Extra help for people struggling with council tax debt will be on offer in three local authority areas in Scotland under a pilot scheme.

The Scottish Government is providing Citizens Advice Scotland with £200,000 funding to better understand the reasons why some people end up in council tax arrears.

As well as this, they will work collaboratively with local councils to help reduce and prevent council tax debt in future.

Citizen’s Advice Bureaux in Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire and the Scottish Borders will test different ways of working including providing targeted support to individuals facing council tax debt, and simplifying the referral processes between councils and advice services.

Housing minister Paul McLennan said: “We know many people are struggling in the cost of living crisis and that is why we are targeting resources at those most in need."

He added that council tax debt is a "significant issue" that affects the most vulnerable.

The three Bureaux involved in these pilots have established relationships with their local authorities.

"This funding aims to build on these connections to help individuals tackle problem debt and provide valuable learning on how public sector debt can best be managed," he said.

McLennan concluded that advice services are "critical" to Scotland's communities, and supporting people in understanding their rights can maximise incomes and help to reduce poverty.

He added: “Advice services are critical to Scotland’s communities, supporting people to understand their rights and entitlements, maximising incomes and helping to reduce poverty.

"This year we will invest more than £12.5 million in a range of advice services providing free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice.”