Benefits team Christmas opening hours
Our Benefits team will be closed for Bank Holidays over the Christmas period. They will be closed on Wednesday 25 December 2024, Thursday 26 December 2024, and Wednesday 1 January 2025.
Normal opening hours apply outside of the Bank Holidays.
If you are living on a low income, you could get Council Tax Support. You may be able to apply for this help with your Council Tax bill, even if you already receive other Council Tax discounts and exemptions.
Eligibility
To qualify for Council Tax Support, you must be living on a low income, and be the person named on the Council Tax bill. To be eligible, there is also an upper limit on the savings that you and any partner can have (excluding the value of your property, if you own it). Select the category below which applies to you, to check your eligibility, and the amount of Council Tax Support you could expect to receive.
- The Housing Costs element of your Universal Credit
- The Childcare element of your Universal Credit
- Any Housing Benefit you receive to pay for living in supported accommodation
Eligibility
You can't get Council Tax Reduction if you have more than £6,000 in savings or capital.
The amount you may receive
We can pay up to 100% of your Council Tax bill, based on your income. We will use the information we receive from Universal Credit about your weekly income to calculate your Council Tax Support.
| Income band | Basic weekly income allowance (single person) | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0 - £90.81 | 100% |
| 2 | £90.82 - £190.81 | 85% |
| 3 | £190.82 - £290.81 | 60% |
| 4 | £290.82 - £390.81 | 40% |
| 5 | £390.82 - £440.81 | 20% |
| 6 | £440.82 or above | 0% |
| Income band | Basic weekly income allowance (couple) | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0 - £142.53 | 100% |
| 2 | £142.54 - £242.53 | 85% |
| 3 | £242.54 - £342.53 | 60% |
| 4 | £342.54 - £442.53 | 40% |
| 5 | £442.54 - £492.53 | 20% |
| 6 | £492.54 or above | 0% |
We will increase your weekly household income allowance by £50 per child, up to a maximum of £100 (or two children). E.g. 1 adult + 1 child = £50 extra.
Eligibility
You or your partner must have under £10,000 in savings or capital.
The amount you may get
We can pay up to 78% of your Council Tax bill. We will only pay this bill percentage up to the cost of a Band D property Council Tax bill in your area. You may still get Council Tax Support if you live in a property which is valued at Band E or above, but you will only get up to 78% of the cost of a Band D property taken off your bill.
For example, if the Band D Council Tax bill in your area is £1,800, and you live in a Band F property, your bill will be £2,592. The maximum Council Tax Support you will receive will be 78% of the Band D bill (= £1,404, or 54% of your Band F bill), so you will have to pay £2,592 - £1,404 = £1,188.
Eligibility
You or your partner must have under £16,000 in savings or capital.
The amount you may get
We can pay up to 100% of your Council Tax bill.
Eligibility and the amount you may get
You or your partner must have under £16,000 in savings or capital.
We can pay up to 100% of your Council Tax bill, if you are of working age and not receiving Universal Credit, and any of the following apply to you or any partner living with you.
- You have a disabled child living with you.
- Your child receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA, either component) at any rate.
- You receive the support component of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
- You receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component at the highest rate.
- You receive the enhanced rate of the daily living component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
If you or your partner receive the middle rate of DLA care component or Attendance Allowance, or the daily living component of PIP at the standard or enhanced rate, the following rules will apply.
- You must not have any other able-bodied adults living with you.
- No one can be receiving Carers Allowance to pay for their care of you.
- If you are a couple, both of you need to be receiving the middle rate of DLA or Attendance Allowance, or the daily living component of PIP at the standard or enhanced rate.
Please note: If you are of working age and on Universal Credit, then any DLA, PIP or Attendance Allowance you receive will not be counted as part of your household income when calculating your entitlement to Council Tax Support.
Before you apply
If you are eligible for Council Tax Support, we will need to see evidence of your eligibility in order to process your claim. Please download our evidence leaflet for a list of documents you will need to provide with your claim.
If you are unsure of whether you qualify for Council Tax Support, you can use the benefits calculator on GOV.UK to show you what benefits you are entitled to.
How to apply
If you are intending to claim Universal Credit in the future
When you apply for Universal Credit you are also given an option to apply for Council Tax Support. If you require financial help with your Council Tax bill, please select that option when claiming Universal Credit.
The DWP will inform us directly of your requirements, you do not need to apply to us.
If you already receive Universal Credit
If you already receive Universal Credit but have not claimed Council Tax Support, please apply to us directly using our online benefits portal.
If you think you may be eligible for Council Tax Support but do not claim Universal Credit
If you would like to apply for Council Tax Support, please apply to us directly using our online benefits portal.
Next steps
We will review your claim within 10 working days.
If you are of pension age and are eligible for Council Tax Support, we will automatically backdate your claim for up to three months, or the date you attained pensionable age (whichever is the most recent).
Any change in circumstances may affect your payments. Please tell us about a change as soon as possible.
Find out more about benefits by following the links in the panel on the right.
Need to see someone?
We can offer face to face appointments for those who have in-depth benefit enquires or may have difficulties using our online facilities.
For more information please speak to a Benefits Assessor by calling 01225 47 72 77.