Help with your Council Tax

What is Council Tax Support?

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.

How much is it worth?

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:

• your household income and your savings or investments
• who you live with
• which benefits you receive
• whether you've reached State Pension age
• how much Council Tax you pay
• how the scheme works in your area.

The amount you can get may be higher if you, or someone living with you, have a disability or caring responsibilities.

What else could I get?

There are other ways you may be able to reduce your Council Tax bill.

• Living alone - If you live alone, you can get a 25% discount on your Council Tax bill. You could still get this even if you live with other people, as not everyone is counted for Council Tax purposes. This includes:
  • full-time students
  • some carers
  • people with a severe mental impairment - for example, dementia, a brain injury, a health condition such as Parkinson's or a serious mental health condition.
• If everyone living in your home, including you, is disregarded, you can get a 50% discount.
• The Disabled Band Reduction Scheme - If your home has been adapted or is larger than it would otherwise be because someone with a disability lives there, the council can reduce your Council Tax bill to the band below, or by one sixth if your home is in the lowest band. To qualify, you need to have made changes to your house to accommodate the disabled person's needs: for example, having an extra kitchen or bathroom because the disabled person needs this, or extra space to use a wheelchair indoors. There's no set test to determine whether you qualify. Your council may ask for supporting evidence, such as a letter from your GP, and they may want to visit your home.
• Empty properties - If your home is empty, you may not have to pay Council Tax. This could be because you’ve moved into a care home, gone into hospital or gone to live with a relative or friend so they can look after you or you can care for them. Contact your local council to find out if your property is exempt.
• Second Adult Rebate - If you live with someone on a low income who isn’t your partner, you may qualify for a discount on your bill called a Second Adult Rebate if this is available in your area. You can’t get this at the same time as Council Tax Support but your local council should automatically consider whether you’d be better off getting a Second Adult Rebate. Depending on your income, your Council Tax bill could be reduced by 7.5%, 15% or 25%. Contact your local council to find out whether they offer this.

If you're unsure whether you qualify for a discount please call us on 0800 319 6789, to speak to our Helpline advisers.

Challenging decisions

You have the right of appeal against decisions on:

• Who is liable to pay council tax
• Where you are normally resident
• Whether a dwelling is exempt from council tax
• Whether a discount or disability reduction applies.

For more information about how to challenge a Council Tax decision, please see our factsheet What to do if you disagree with a benefits decision, or contact Citizens Advice (Citizens Advice Scotland for Scotland).