More than £80 million in council tax debt was registered against universal credit households in year ending February 2023
Figures supplied by DWP Minister also show that more than £55 million in water arrears was registered in same period
More than £80 million in council tax debt was registered against universal credit households in the year ending February 2023, according to figures supplied by DWP Minister Guy Opperman.
Responding yesterday to a written question in Parliament on the total value of third-party universal credit deductions for (a) court fines, (b) council tax arrears, (c) water charges arrears, (d) gas or electricity charges arrears, (e) mortgage interest arrears and (f) owner-occupier service charge arrears, Mr Opperman provided the following information for the period from March 2022 to February 2023 –
Number of debts registered
Total amount of debt registered
Council tax
161,900
£80,090,000
Electricity arrears
1,800
£2,680,000
Fines
253,100
£198,770,000
Gas arrears
1,400
£1,520,000
Mortgage interest
10
£10,000
Owner occupied service charges
60
£110,000
Water arrears
46,000
£55,620,000
Total
464,300
£338,800,000
NB – Mr Opperman also confirmed that ongoing consumption deductions for gas, water and electricity are excluded from the total amount of debt.