Council tax increase for adult social care
The government has allowed councils that provide social care to adults to increase their share of council tax by up to an extra 2% in comparison to last year’s council tax.
This additional council tax charge is called the adult social care precept and used to be shown separately on your bill.
This year it is shown as part of Staffordshire County Council's charge, which has increased by 4.99% and this includes the 2% increase for adult social care.
The income generated from this charge is ring-fenced, meaning it can only be used for adult social care services.
Staffordshire County Council provides adult social care in Lichfield District, and we collect this charge on their behalf. Find out about the services they provide.
About adult social care funding
The secretary of state made an offer to adult social care authorities. Adult social care authorities are local authorities which have functions under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, namely county councils in England, district councils for an area in England for which there is no county council, London borough councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
The offer was the option of an adult social care authority being able to charge an additional precept on its council tax without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting its expenditure on adult social care from the financial year 2016-17. It was originally made in respect of the financial years up to and including 2019-20. If the secretary of state chooses to renew this offer in respect of a particular financial year, this is subject to the approval of the House of Commons.