Insights ¦ Measuring vulnerability in council tax collection

Published by: The Centre for Social Justice
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Key Take Aways

Vulnerability among households in council tax collection is widespread, with 97% of those behind on payments exhibiting at least one sign of vulnerability across multiple drivers.

The most common overlapping vulnerabilities include low resilience, negative life events, limited capability, and poor health, with 64% showing signs of at least two drivers.

Vulnerability is both wide (many vulnerable individuals exhibit multiple traits) and deep (many display multiple characteristics within each driver), necessitating nuanced engagement approaches.

The financial conduct framework’s four key drivers of vulnerability are essential for understanding risks in debt collection, especially in the context of public sector enforcement.

Contemporary enforcement standards emphasise the importance of recognising and supporting vulnerable consumers, but data limitations hinder consistent identification.

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