Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 7, 2025

Purpose: Cabinet is recommended to approve the proposed phased reduction to the Minimum Income Guarantee uplift.  

Content: Cabinet:   (1)            considered the responses to the public consultation and alternative proposals put forward by residents, as outlined in Appendix 1 and Section 4.1 & 6 of the report;   (2)            noted mitigating measures to support residents through any transition set out in Section 3.5 of the report;   (3)            noted the recommendation from Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee set out in paragraph 6.10 of the report;   (4)            agreed to proceed with the proposed phased reduction and removal of the discretionary uplift applied to the Minimum Income Guarantee as follows:   ·       2025/26: An initial reduction from 25% to 10%, in November 2025 ·       2026/27: A further reduction from 10% to 0% in November 2026   (5)            delegated authority to the Strategic Director Adult Services to make the necessary changes to the Fairer Contributions policy reflecting these changes.   Options & Alternatives Considered Of the 2574 individuals invited to participate in the consultation, we received 109 responses representing a response rate of 4%. Of those, 78 respondents were receiving non-residential community care and support arranged by Waltham Forest and 45 respondents were carers for someone who received care and support. Some individuals fell into both categories. 45 respondents were contributing towards the cost of their care. To encourage greater participation significant efforts were made through multiple engagement methods, including direct outreach, targeted communications, and accessible formats. Further detail on the engagement approach is provided in Appendix 1. As part of the consultation residents were asked to consider a range of alternative options to the proposed reduction and removal of the MIG uplift (Reduced from 25% to 10% and the 0% the following year) The response to these are summarised in Table 3.