More about Council Tax Support

How do I make a claim?

You'll need to fill in an claim form. The quickest way is to apply online.

The form covers both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support and we process both claims at the same time.

The Jobcentre and the Pension Service no longer take claims for help with Council Tax on our behalf. You must contact us directly even if you're making a claim for another state benefit.

If you claim Universal Credit you need to contact us to claim Council Tax Support, but help with your rent will be included as part of your Universal Credit award.

Who can claim?

You can claim if your name is on your Council Tax bill and:

• You (and your partner if you have one) are on a low income
  or

• You're a single person over pension age and have another adult (or adults) on a low income living with you. This is called Second Adult Rebate.

Council Tax Support doesn't depend on National Insurance contributions.

You can apply if you're working - either for an employer or self-employed.

Who can't get Council Tax Support?

You can't claim:

• For a property that no-one lives in

• If you have savings of more than £16,000 (unless you also get Guarantee Pension Credit).

How is Council Tax Support paid?

It's not a benefit in the traditional sense. We'll just reduce the amount of Council Tax you have to pay.

How much Council Tax Support can I get?

If you (or your partner if you're a couple) are over pension age and on a low income, you can get a discount up to the full amount of your Council Tax bill.

If you (and your partner if you're a couple) are working age, you can get a discount of up to 85% of your bill.

But your Council Tax Support will be reduced if:

• You have other adults living with you - for example grown-up children, other relatives or friends

• Your income is more than the rules say you need to live on.

If you're a single person over pension age, but have other adults who are on a low income living with you, you can get a Second Adult Rebate of up to 25% of your bill.

What income is included?

Most types of income are counted (along with your partner's income if you're a couple) - such as earnings, tax credits, state benefits and occupational pensions.

But some income isn't counted - such as Child Benefit, child support payments, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces independence Payment, Bereavement Support Payment and War Pension.

Make sure you tell us about all your income, even if it won't be counted.

If you have to pay for childcare while you're working, we can ignore up to £300 of your weekly earnings.

How do savings affect my Council Tax Support?

If you (and your partner if you're a couple) have savings of more than £16,000, you can't get Council Tax Support unless you also get Guarantee Pension Credit.

For people under pension age, savings of less than £6,000 are ignored - but we take a weekly income of £1 for every £250 (or part of £250) that you have between £6,000 and the savings limit of £16,000. 

For people over pension age, savings of less than £10,000 are ignored - but we take a weekly income of £1 for every £500 (or part of £500) that you have between £10,000 and the savings limit of £16,000.

How are my needs assessed?

We work out how much you need to live on using figures set by the government each year. This is called your 'applicable amount'.

This is made up of a personal allowance for you (and your partner if you're a couple) and any extra allowances, premiums or components which apply - such as for families, carers and disabled people.

If you get Universal Credit, we'll use your 'maximum Universal Credit amount' given to us by the Jobcentre as your applicable amount.

How is my Council Tax Support worked out?

We begin by working out your Council Tax as a weekly amount.

For people over pension age:

We divide your yearly bill by 365 (or 366 in a leap year) and then multiply the daily charge by seven.

For people of working age:

We work out 85% of your yearly bill, then divide this figure by 365 (or 366 in a leap year) and multiply the result by seven.

This figure is your weekly eligible Council Tax.

We then make a deduction from your eligible Council Tax for any adults living with you who aren't financially dependent on you. This is called a non-dependant deduction. But we don't make this deduction if you're registered blind, getting Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (Daily Living), Armed Forces independence Payment, or the care component of Disability Living Allowance.

If you're a pensioner getting Guaranteed Pension Credit, you'll get a discount of the full amount of your Council Tax, less any non-dependant deductions.

If you're working age and getting Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Jobseekers Allowance, you'll get a discount of 85% of your Council Tax (less any non-dependant deductions).

If you're not on Guaranteed Pension Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Jobseekers Allowance and your income is more than your needs allowance, we make a further deduction of 20% of the excess.

Examples - how benefit is worked out.

If you get Pension Savings Credit, we'll use the income figures given to us by the Pension Service to work out your award.

If you get Universal Credit, we'll use the figures given to us by the Jobcentre to work out your award.

Under pension age - when will my Council Tax Support start?

Your benefit will normally start from the Monday following the date that you first contact us, as long as you return your claim form within one month of this date.

The Jobcentre no longer takes claims for help with Council Tax on our behalf, so you must contact us directly even if you're making a claim for Universal Credit or another state benefit.

Council Tax Support can be backdated if you can give good reasons why you couldn't claim earlier.

Over pension age - when will my Council Tax Support start?

We'll automatically look at your benefit for a three month earlier period.

When does my Council Tax Support end?

Your Council Tax Support will normally carry on until you have a change in circumstances that stops you from getting the discount.

But as your Council Tax Support may also go up or down if your circumstances change, you must report any changes in writing straight away.

What if I don't agree with the decision?

You can ask for it to be explained or looked at again.

More information is given on the appeals and disputes page.

Is any extra help available if I still can't afford my Council Tax?

You may be able to get extra, short-term help through the Discretionary Discount fund.

Need more information?

If you have other questions about Council Tax Support, please contact us.

Apply now