Council Tax Reduction

If you're on a low income or receive certain benefits, you can get help from your local council when paying your Council Tax bill – this is known as Council Tax Reduction or Council Tax Support.

What is Council Tax Reduction?

Council Tax Reduction (also known as Council Tax Support) is a benefit to help people who are on a low income or claiming certain benefits to pay their Council Tax bill. 

You can make a claim whether you own your home or you're renting, and your employment status won't have an impact on your claim. 

How much Council Tax Reduction will I get?

There's no set amount of Council Tax Reduction. What you get depends on your circumstances and where you live. Each local council operates its own Council Tax Reduction scheme, so the amounts of support given across the country may vary.

Wherever you live, the amount of Council Tax Reduction you get depends on many factors, including:

• your age
• your income, including any benefits you receive 
• your savings
• who you live with
• how much Council Tax you pay.

You may get more Council Tax Reduction if you receive a disability or carer's benefit.

If you receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit you may even get your Council Tax paid in full. If you don’t get Guarantee Credit but have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings, you may still get some help.

If you're not over State Pension age, the Council Tax Reduction you're entitled to is worked out using 'working age scheme' rules which tend to be less generous. Check these rules with your local council. 

Am I eligible for Council Tax Reduction?

If you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you might be eligible for Council Tax Reduction.

But whether you're eligible in your area, and what you might be eligible for, is up to your local council. Each council has their own rules so you should check what the rules are in your area.

How do I claim Council Tax Reduction?

The first thing you need to do to make a claim is contact your local council. 

All local councils use the same Council Tax Reduction scheme for people over State Pension, but the scheme for people below State Pension age can vary between councils. Contact your local council to find out which scheme they use.

Find your local council and start your claim on GOV.UK

Can I get more money off my Council Tax bill?

As well as Council Tax Reduction, there are other exemptions and discounts that might apply to you. You might be able to get money off your Council Tax bill if:

• you live alone
• you're a carer 
• you or someone you live with has a severe mental impairment, such as dementia or a learning difficulty
• there are adaptations in your home for someone with a disability who lives there
• you have another person living with you who isn't your partner and is on a low income
• your property is empty – for example, you've gone into hospital or moved into a care home
• where you're living isn't your main residence
• there's an issue, such as a flood, which may be covered by a discretionary discount offered by some councils.