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Help with Council Tax

You might be able to get help with your Council Tax if:

  • you have certain personal or family circumstances
  • you have a low income

Council Tax discounts

You could get a discount, exemption, or reduction on your Council Tax.

This depends on your situation, not how much money you have. Council tax assumes that there are 2 or more people in the property. If there are fewer people, the council tax might be reduced by 25% or 50%.

Examples of people disregarded for council tax:

  • full-time students
  • people with a severe mental impairment
  • some live-in carers, caring for someone who is not their partner or child
  • patients in hospital or nursing home
  • people in prison

Your council tax can also be reduced by one band in some cases, if the property has been adapted to meet the needs of someone with a disability.

Each council has its own rules. Contact your council to find out more:

Council Tax support (help to pay)

You may get Council Tax support if:

  • you have a low income
  • you have low savings

You might qualify if, for example, you:

  • are working and on a low wage
  • are unemployed
  • get Universal Credit
  • are a pensioner with a small income
  • are a single parent on a low income

Rules

If you're working age:

  • you can't get help if you have over £16,000 in savings
  • you may get less help if you have between £6,000 and £16,000 in savings
  • you must apply – getting other benefits (like Universal Credit) does not mean you get this help automatically

If you're pension age:

  • the rules are more generous
  • if you get Pension Credit, you may get full help

You can find details of how to make a claim on your local council website: