Council Tax Reduction
Pay a reduced amount of Council Tax or none at all, depending on your circumstances
Who can apply?
You can apply for Council Tax Reduction (also known as Council Tax Support) if you get any of these benefits, tax credits, Universal Credit, or if you are working and have a low income:
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance
- the 'Guaranteed Credit' part of Pension Credit
How much will the bill be reduced by?
The reduction you get will depend on your circumstances, including:
- your household income, including savings, pensions and your partner's income
- your age
- any children who live with you
Council Tax Reduction does not affect single person's discount.
For more information on how Council Tax Reduction works, click here.
Changes from 1 April 2019
The way that Council Tax Reduction is worked out for working age people is changing. The amount you receive will be based on the grid below which looks at you (and your partner's) income.
These changes do not affect people of state pension age.
| Band | Single Person Weekly income (£) | Couple Weekly income (£) | Household with 1Child Weekly income (£) | Household with 2 or more children Weekly income (£) |
| (1) 75% discount* | 0.00 to 110.00 | 0.00 to 160.00 | 0.00 to 190.00 | 0.00 to 270.00 |
| (2) 55% discount | 110.01 to 150.00 | 160.01 to 190.00 | 190.01 to 220.00 | 270.01 to 340.00 |
| (3) 35% discount | 150.01 to 190.00 | 190.01 to 220.00 | 220.01 to 270.00 | 340.01 to 420.00 |
| (4) 22% discount | 190.01 to 280.00 | 220.01 to 310.00 | 270.01 to 340.00 | 420.01 - 495.00 |
* If you are in receipt of relevant benefit (Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Employment Support Allowance (Income Related) or Income Support) you will receive 75% support.
Some incomes you receive do not count when working out your weekly income.
These include:
- Child Benefit,
- Child Maintenance,
- Disability Living Allowance,
- Personal Independence Payment,
- Armed Forces Independence Payment,
- War Pensions,
- Carers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance Support Components, Housing element from Universal Credit.
If you are working we will ignore £25 of your earned income when working out your total award.
If you are disabled (in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit) we will ignore £40.00 of your income when working out your total award.
A standard deduction will be taken from your award of £10.00 per week for each Non Dependant (someone who normally lives with you as an adult son, daughter, relative or friend) where relevant.
Example of percentage of reduction
A single person with one child who earns £230.00 per week and receives Tax Credits of £35.00 per week. They have a total income of £265.00 per week. Because they work we take £25.00 from their earnings so their total income is £240.00.
This would mean that they would receive 35% discount from their Council Tax bill in Band 3 for a household with 1 child.
If you already receive Council Tax Reduction you do not need to submit any new forms.
The amount of Council Tax Reduction discount that you will get shows on your Council Tax bill.
Please remember that any changes that could effect this discount must be reported to the Council within 21 days of the change.
Council Tax Reduction further information
How to apply
Complete the online application form, making sure you have:
- your Council Tax reference number (if known)
- the names of all adults living at the address and their National Insurance numbers and employment details
- details of any other income, for example from self-employment or a pension
- details of all bank, building society, and savings accounts including account details and amounts held
You can also use this form to apply for Housing Benefit at the same time.
Apply for Council Tax Reduction
If you already receive Housing Benefit
Apply for Council Tax Reduction here instead.
You'll need your Housing Benefit reference number and National Insurance number to complete this form.
Submitting your evidence
Once you submit the online form, if you have included your email address you will be emailed a list of any evidence required to process your application, which you can submit here.
What happens next?
If you're awarded a reduction, you'll get a letter to confirm this. You'll also get a new Council Tax bill, showing the new amount you need to pay.
Appealing a decision
You can appeal against our decision to not award a Council Tax Reduction if you think it's wrong. We will respond within two months.
If we don't agree you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal who must receive your appeal within two months of us making our decision.
Visit GOV.UK for further information on Council Tax appeals.
Change of circumstances
If you want to tell us something has changed on your current claim please complete our change of circumstances form.
Cancelling Council Tax Reduction
If you want to cancel your Council Tax Reduction, you can do so here.
