Council Tax Discounts
Council Tax is worked out based on the number of adults living in a property.
- Single person discount
- Is your household entitled to a discount?
- Who may be entitled to a council tax discount
Single person discount
The property must be your sole or main residence.
You can apply for the single person discount through 'My Account'.
If you currently receive a single person discount but your circumstances have changed and you are no longer the only adult in the property you can let us know through My Account.
Is your household entitled to a discount?
| Number of adults | Number of adults who are discounted | Discount you will receive |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | No discount |
| 2 | 1 | 25% - one adult discounted |
| 2 | 2 | 50% - all adults discounted |
| 3 | 2 | 25% - one adult discounted |
| 4 | 2 | No discount |
A person may be eligible for a discount if they are in the list below.
If all members of the household are students or severely mentally impaired see our exemptions page.
Who might be entitled to a Council Tax discount
- Students, foreign language assistants or non-British spouses of students
- Student nurses
- Severely mentally impaired
- Care leavers
- Carers
- School and college leavers
- People in prison or other places of detention
- Patients in hospitals or care homes
- Apprentices
- Youth Training trainees
- Members of religious communities
Students, foreign language assistants or non-British spouses of students
If all occupants of a house are full-time students then they will be exempt from paying council tax. More information can be found on the Council Tax and students page.
Student nurses
Student nurses may be able to receive a discount if they are on a course leading to an appropriate registration under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act.
Severely mentally impaired
This refers to a person who has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent. This may include conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
For a person to qualify as severely mentally impaired, we need a certificate from a doctor confirming the person meets the definition. We also need confirmation the person is entitled to one or more of the following:
- Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance
- Daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
- Universal Credit (including an element for limited capability for work and work-related activity)
- Incapacity Benefit or Income Support with a disability premium
- Working Tax Credit with a disability element
- Severe Disablement Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit or an increase in the rate of Disablement Pension where constant care is needed
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
Apply in My Account and complete the online form
If you are applying on behalf of somebody else, please complete the Severely Mentally Impaired discount form (PDF, 104KB). We will need to contact the person’s doctor to confirm that they qualify so you should also send proof that you are authorised to deal with their affairs with the completed form.
You must enclose evidence of entitlement to one of the incomes listed above. We will contact the person's doctor.
Care leavers
Since 1 April 2018 young people who have left local authority care do not have to pay Council Tax in Haringey.
These young people receive a 100% discount up to their 25th birthday.
If you were in the care of Haringey we will apply the discount to your bill - you do not need to apply for it.
If you were in the care of another local authority contact us to give us proof.
Carers
For Council Tax purposes, the carer must meet all four of these requirements:
- provides care for a person who is entitled to one of the following:
- the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
- higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance
- higher rate of Attendance Allowance
- an increased Constant Attendance Allowance
- an increased Disablement Pension
- an Armed Forces Independence Payment
- is resident in the same property as the person receiving care
- provides care for at least 35 hours a week
- is not a spouse of the person they provide care for or a parent caring for their child who is under 18
To apply complete the Carers discount form (PDF, 42KB).
School and college leavers
People aged 18 or 19 who leave school or finish a course at a further education college after 30 April in any year are not counted when working out a discount until 1 November of that year.
To apply complete the School and college leavers form (PDF, 28KB).
People in prison or other places of detention
This applies to people who are detained in a prison, hospital or other places of detention. This does not apply to a person who was imprisoned for non-payment of fines or Council Tax.
To apply complete the Persons in Detention form (PDF, 12KB).
We will contact the prison/institute for confirmation.
Patients in hospitals or care homes
A person receiving care or treatment outside of their home is not included when working out a discount if they are staying in:
- a hospital
- a residential care home
- a nursing home
- a mental nursing home
- a hostel in England or Wales
This does not apply to somebody who is in hospital for a short time and whose main home is elsewhere.
To apply complete the Hospital Patients / Patients in homes form (PDF, 12KB).
Apprentices
A person of any age may be an apprentice if:
- they are employed for the purpose of learning a trade or profession
- they are on a training programme leading to a qualification accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
The apprentice must not be in receipt of a wage or allowance of more than £195 per week.
Apprentices are included when working out a discount while they are still training.
To apply complete the Apprentices application form (PDF, 27KB).
Youth Training trainees
This applies to a person who is under 25 years old and is receiving training which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council for England under the Employment and Training Act 1973.
To apply complete the Youth Training Trainees form (PDF, 33KB).
Members of religious communities
If a person whose principal occupation is prayer, contemplation, education, the relief of suffering, or any combination of these, then they may be counted when working out a discount.
The person must have no income (with the exception of any occupational pension due to former employment) or capital of their own and must be completely dependent on the community for their needs.
To apply complete the Members of religious communities discount form (PDF, 36KB).