Council Tax discount for carers

Do I qualify for a discount?

To qualify for a carer's discount, you must either meet the conditions listed in Part 1 or Part 2:

Part 1

(a) Be providing care or support through a connection with the Government, a charity or a local authority

(b) Be employed for at least 24 hours per week

(c) Be paid no more than £44 per week and

(d) Be resident where the care is given or in premises which have been provided for the better performance of the work

Or, you must:

Part 2

(a) Provide care for at least 35 hours a week

(b) Live in the same property as the person you are caring for and

(c) Not be the spouse or partner of the person you care for, or their parent if you care for a child under 18 and the person you care for must receive either:

• The highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance or
• The higher rate of attendance allowance or
• Constant attendance allowance

You don't have to claim Carer's Allowance to qualify for this discount, and your income and savings will not affect your eligibility.

If there is more than one carer in the property, they can both be ignored for council tax purposes as long as they meet either of the two sets of conditions.

For example:

Bill and Pam are liable for Council Tax on the property in which they live.

Pam's mother, Pauline, who lives with the couple, is suffering from dementia and is receiving the higher rate of Attendance Allowance - Pam cares for her at least 35 hours a week.

Bill also cares for Pauline 35 hours a week, during weekends and before and after his paid work.

The only other person in the household is Bill and Pam's 15 year old son, Gary.

All the residents in this property can be disregarded so the council tax discount is 50%.

It doesn't matter whether or not Bill or Pam receives Carer's Allowance.

John spends 35 hours a week looking after his son, Brandon, who is 21, has severe learning disabilities and receives the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.

John's wife Jodie also lives in the house but does not spend 35 hours a week looking after Brandon.

John and Brandon are disregarded but not Jodie, so the council tax discount is 25%.

To find out more about the discount for carers and to request an application form please contact the Council Tax Team.

Visit Carers UK for more help and guidance for carers.