Council Tax Benefit

Help with your Council Tax

There are two different types of benefit available for Council Tax payers.  These are

• Council Tax Benefit
• Second Adult Rebate

Which benefit can I claim?

You cannot get both.  If you qualify for both you will be granted the benefit that reduces your Council Tax bill the most.

Council Tax Benefit

You can claim Council Tax Benefit if you are the person (or one of the persons) who is responsible for paying the Council Tax for the property you live in and:

• You are getting Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) or Guarantee element of Pension Credit.

• You have a low income.  This includes people who are in work or self-employed.

• If you get Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) or Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit you will get the full amount of your eligible Council Tax as benefit after any discounts or non-dependant deduction have been taken off.

You cannot get Council Tax Benefit if:

• You are not directly liable to pay the Council Tax
  
• You (or your partner) have capital/savings of over £16,000 unless this includes one or more of the special payments made or you are in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee.
  
• Most full-time students who live alone cannot claim because there home will be exempt from council tax.  But you maybe able to claim if your partner is a full time student and you are not.
  
• Benefit is calculated by comparing your household and personal circumstances with your income and savings/capital.  We also have to take into account any other adults who live with you.  If you wish to make a claim for benefit please refer to the section on Applying for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit.
  
• If your Council Tax Benefit does not cover your Council Tax Liability and you are in financial difficulty you may be able to claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
  
• To see if you might qualify for Council Tax Benefit why not try our Benefits Calculator.

If you do not agree with the decision that has been made on your claim refer to the section on Disputes.