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Council Tax

Housing Benefit

Help with housing costs

If you are responsible for paying your Council Tax bill, there may be ways to pay less.
You may be able to get more than one discount on your Council Tax bill if you qualify.
You may not have to pay any Council Tax if you fall into any of these categories:
Your council decides whether a home is exempt, and the rules can be complicated. If you think your home might be exempt, call us on 0800 319 6789 to speak to an adviser.
If you live in England or Wales, each council has its own Council Tax Reduction scheme (also called Council Tax Support) to help people on a low income. If you live in Scotland, there is a national scheme that your local authority will deliver. Wherever you live, contact your local council to ask about the scheme in your area.
You can also ask them who should be paying the Council Tax on your home if you’re not sure. You can apply for a reduction whether you rent or own your home.
If you receive Guarantee Pension Credit, you may get your Council Tax paid in full. Even if you don’t get Pension Credit, you may still get some help. You can apply for Council Tax Reduction 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.
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 because the council does not count every person for Council Tax purposes. For example, the following people won’t count towards your Council Tax bill:
If your council disregards everyone living in your home, including you, you can get a 50% discount from your bill.
If you're unsure whether you qualify for a discount, call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to speak to an adviser.
You may pay less Council Tax if anyone living with you is ‘substantially and permanently disabled’.
You also have to meet at least one of these conditions:
If you qualify, the council will reduce your Council Tax to the band below yours (for example, from band E to band D), or by one sixth if your home is in the lowest band.
You can check on Gov.uk to see if you qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme.
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. Your local council might call a Second Adult Rebate ‘alternative maximum council tax reduction’. You can’t get Second Adult Rebate if you live in Wales.
You can’t get this at the same time as Council Tax Reduction. But after you apply for Second Adult Rebate, your local council should automatically consider which one you’d be better off getting. They should award you the bigger discount of the two.
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.
You have the right of appeal against decisions on:
For more information about how to challenge a Council Tax decision, read our factsheet What to do if you disagree with a benefits decision. You can also call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to speak to an adviser.
If you live in England contact your local council for more information about help to pay your Council Tax .
If you live in Wales, you can find more information at gov.wales.
If you live in Scotland visit mygov.scot.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify for a discount or reduction, call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789 for more advice.