Apply for Council Tax Support

If you are living on a low income, you could get Council Tax Support. You may be able to apply for this help with your Council Tax bill, even if you already receive other Council Tax discounts and exemptions.

Eligibility

To qualify for Council Tax Support, you must be living on a low income, and be the person named on the Council Tax bill. To be eligible, there is also an upper limit on the savings that you and any partner can have (excluding the value of your property, if you own it).

Select the category below which applies to you, to check your eligibility, and the amount of Council Tax Support you could expect to receive.

Working age claimants receiving Universal Credit

This scheme changed on 1st April 2024. We will still calculate your discount based on your weekly household income, but we will no longer count the following as part of your weekly household income allowance:

• The Housing Costs element of your Universal Credit
• The Childcare element of your Universal Credit
• Any Housing Benefit you receive to pay for living in supported accommodation

Eligibility

You can only get Council Tax Reduction if you have less than £6,000 in savings or capital.

The amount you may receive

We can pay up to 100% of your Council Tax bill, based on your income. We will use the information we receive from Universal Credit about your weekly income to calculate your Council Tax Support.

Income band	Basic weekly income allowance (single person)	Discount
1	£0.00 - £98.05	100%
2	£98.06 - £198.05	85%
3	£198.06 - £298.05	60%
4	£298.06 - £398.05	40%
5	£398.06 - £448.05	20%
6	£448.06 or above	0%

 

Income band	Basic weekly income allowance (couple)	Discount
1	£0.00 - £153.92	100%
2	£153.93 - £253.92	85%
3	£253.93 - £353.92	60%
4	£353.93 - £453.92	40%
5	£453.93 - £503.92	20%
6	£503.93 or above	0%

We will increase your weekly household income allowance by £50 per child, up to a maximum of £100 (or two children). So, for example, 1 adult + 1 child = £50 extra.

If you've recently moved to Universal Credit from other benefits

Some claimants have recently started to get (or are in the process of moving to) Universal Credit, to replace part or all of your other benefits, such as Employment Support Allowance or Tax Credits. If this applies to you, we will need to re-calculate:

• Your Council Tax bill
• The amount and type of Council Tax Support you can claim

If you have recently received a new, and different, Council Tax bill that you didn't expect, your move to Universal Credit is probably the reason why.

Now that you get Universal Credit, you may still be eligible for Council Tax Support, but the way we work out what you can get is different. We will use your income to calculate the level of reduction you can get on your bill. This applies, even if you are still receiving some form of Employment Support Allowance.

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to help with living or care costs, we don't count this, when we calculate your income.

To see what reduction you will get on your Council Tax bill, please read the information in the section above, Working age claimants receiving Universal Credit. For some claimants, the changes to your bill and your support may mean you have more to pay.

Visit our dedicated page for advice, if you're having problems paying your Council Tax. You can also contact the Welfare Support team, and ask if they can make a discretionary payment. For advice and support, please call 01225 477277 and select the option for Welfare Support.

Working age claimants NOT receiving Universal Credit

Eligibility

You or your partner must have under £10,000 in savings or capital.

The amount you may get

We can pay up to 78% of your Council Tax bill. We will only pay this bill percentage up to the cost of a Band D property Council Tax bill in your area. You may still get Council Tax Support if you live in a property which is valued at Band E or above, but you will only get up to 78% of the cost of a Band D property taken off your bill.

For example, if the Band D Council Tax bill in your area is £1,800, and you live in a Band F property, your bill will be £2,592. The maximum Council Tax Support you will receive will be 78% of the Band D bill (= £1,404, or 54% of your Band F bill), so you will have to pay £2,592 - £1,404 = £1,188.

Pension age claimants

Eligibility

You or your partner must have under £16,000 in savings or capital.

The amount you may get

We can pay up to 100% of your Council Tax bill.

Claimants unable to work due to a long-term health condition or disability

Eligibility and the amount you may get

You or your partner must have under £16,000 in savings or capital.

We can pay up to 100% of your Council Tax bill, if you are of working age and not receiving Universal Credit, and any of the following apply to you or any partner living with you.

• You have a disabled child living with you.
• Your child receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA, either component) at any rate.
• You receive the support component of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
• You receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component at the highest rate.
• You receive the enhanced rate of the daily living component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

If you or your partner receive the middle rate of DLA care component or Attendance Allowance, or the daily living component of PIP at the standard or enhanced rate, the following rules will apply.

• You must not have any other able-bodied adults living with you.
• No one can be receiving Carers Allowance to pay for their care of you.
• If you are a couple, both of you need to be receiving the middle rate of DLA or Attendance Allowance, or the daily living component of PIP at the standard or enhanced rate.

Please note: If you are of working age and on Universal Credit, then any DLA, PIP or Attendance Allowance you receive will not be counted as part of your household income when calculating your entitlement to Council Tax Support.

Before you apply

If you are eligible for Council Tax Support, we will need to see evidence of your eligibility in order to process your claim.

If you are unsure of whether you qualify for Council Tax Support, you can use the benefits calculator on GOV.UK to show you what benefits you are entitled to.

How to apply

If you are intending to claim Universal Credit in the future

When you apply for Universal Credit you are also given an option to apply for Council Tax Support. If you require financial help with your Council Tax bill, please select that option when claiming Universal Credit.

The DWP will inform us directly of your requirements, you do not need to apply to us.

If you already receive Universal Credit

If you already receive Universal Credit but have not claimed Council Tax Support, please apply to us directly using our online benefits portal.

If you think you may be eligible for Council Tax Support but do not claim Universal Credit

If you would like to apply for Council Tax Support, please apply to us directly using our online benefits portal.

Next steps

We will review your claim within 10 working days.

If you are of pension age and are eligible for Council Tax Support, we will automatically backdate your claim for up to three months, or the date you attained pensionable age (whichever is the most recent).

Any change in circumstances may affect your payments. Please tell us about a change as soon as possible.

Find out more about benefits by following the links in the panel on the right.

Need to see someone?

We can offer face to face appointments for those who have in-depth benefit enquires or may have difficulties using our online facilities.

For more information please speak to a Benefits Assessor by calling 01225 47 72 77.