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Council Tax

Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit

Moneywise

Council Tax Support can help you if you’re on a low income and responsible for paying the Council Tax on your home. There may be other ways you can reduce your bill too.
Some of the information on this page may have changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For the latest information, please check our changes to services page.
Each council has its own Council Tax Support scheme (also called Council Tax Reduction) to help people on a low income. You’ll need to contact your local council to ask about the scheme in your area. You can apply for support whether you rent or own your home.
You can also ask them who is responsible for paying the Council Tax on your home if you’re not sure.
If you receive Guarantee Pension Credit, you may get your Council Tax paid in full. If not, you may still get some help if you’re on a low income, and you and your partner have savings and investments of less than £16,000 between you. How much help you’ll get depends on:
The amount you can get may be higher if you, or someone living with you, have a disability or caring responsibilities.
See our factsheet Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit for more information.
There are other ways you may be able to reduce your Council Tax bill.
If you disagree with any of the council’s decisions about your Council Tax, write to them to say why. They should respond within two months. If you’re not happy with the response, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England, as long as it's within four months of first writing to your council.
If you need help with your appeal, contact your local Age UK or Citizens Advice.
If you need more information about Council Tax discounts and exemptions, you should get in touch with your local council. Find their contact details on Gov.uk.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify for a discount, such as the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme, call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789 for more advice.