Discounts, Exemptions and Reductions

In certain circumstances you may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax bill. The type of reductions available can be split into four categories:

• Council Tax Reduction Scheme
• Disabled Band Reduction
• Discounts 
• Exemptions
• How to apply

If you meet the required criteria for a reduction, please complete the relevant application form.

If you receive a reduction and your circumstances change this may affect your entitlement. You must notify the Council Tax office of any changes within 21 days of the change to allow the council to independently verify the position.If this does not happen any application may not be dealt with retrospectively.

If we know that your discount or exemption is due to end we will send you a revised Council Tax bill nearer the time telling you the new revised amount to pay.

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Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Apply for a Council Tax Reduction online (opens in new window)

• What is the Council Tax Reduction Scheme?
• Who can apply?
• How much can I get?
• How your Council Tax Reduction is paid
• What is a ‘non-dependant’?
• What can I do if I disagree with a CTR decision?
• What happens if I go away?

For further information about the Scheme please visit our Scheme for Council Tax Support page.

What is the Council Tax Reduction Scheme?

Council Tax Reduction can help you pay your Council Tax.

• Main Council Tax Reduction – for people with a low income
• Alternative Maximum Council Tax Reduction (commonly known as Second Adult Reduction) – if your income or savings are too high for main Council Tax Reduction you may be able to get up to 25 percent off your Council Tax bill if you are the only person responsible for paying Council Tax but share your home with one or more adults who:
  • don't pay rent
  • aren't your spouse, partner or civil partner
  • have a combined weekly income of less than £279

When you apply for a Council Tax Reduction we will automatically work out which type gives you the most money.

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How much can I get?

If you are in doubt about whether you can get support with your Council Tax you should apply anyway. We will tell you as soon as we can if you are entitled.

The rules used to work out your Council Tax Reduction are not the same as those used for Housing Benefit purposes. People who qualify for maximum Housing Benefit may not qualify for maximum Council Tax Reduction.

Pensioners

If you are a pensioner your Council Tax Reduction is based on the total amount of Council Tax you are liable for, minus 20 percent of your excess income and any non-dependant deductions.

Non-Pensioners with a disability

Since 1 April 2013 if you get a disability related income your Council Tax Reduction may be based on the total amount of Council Tax you are liable for. This also applies if your partner or a child who lives with you gets the disability related income.

If this applies to you, your Council Tax Reduction is based on the total amount of Council Tax you are liable for, minus 20 percent of your excess income and any non-dependant deductions. You must also qualify for entitlement of at least £1.00 a week to be eligible for an award.

Non-Pensioners who have a child living with them

From 1 April 2019 if you a child or children living with you as part of your household your Council Tax Reduction may be based on the total amount of Council Tax you are liable for.

If this applies to you, your Council Tax Reduction is based on the total amount of Council Tax you are liable for, minus 20 percent of your excess income and any non-dependant deductions. You must also qualify for entitlement of at least £1.00 a week to be eligible for an award.

All other non-Pensioners

If you do not fall into any of the categories shown above your Council Tax Reduction is based on 80.2 percent of the amount of Council Tax you are liable for, minus 20 percent of your excess income and any non-dependant deductions. You must also qualify for entitlement of at least £1.00 a week to be eligible for an award.

This also applies to non-pensioners who have a child living with them between 1 April 2013 - 31 March 2019.

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How your Council Tax Reduction is paid

A Council Tax Reduction is credited directly to your Council Tax account for the whole financial year. When the Reduction has been credited, you will be sent a new bill. If your Reduction changes during the year, we will send you a revised bill.

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What is a ‘non-dependant’?

A non-dependant is a person who lives in your home on a non-commercial basis. Non-dependants are normally adult children or relatives but they can also be friends or anyone else who lives with you.

We normally reduce your Council Tax Reduction for every non-dependant in your home. We call this a ‘non-dependant deduction’. Your reduction will be reduced for each non-dependant. The amount of deduction depends on their income and circumstances. You must tell us about changes in the circumstances of your non-dependants.

In some cases we will not make a deduction. For example, we will not make a deduction if you or your partner:

• are registered blind, or
• get Disability Living Allowance (care component), or
• get Personal Independence Payment (Daily Living component), or
• get Attendance allowance.

We will not make a deduction if the non-dependant:

• is under 18 years old
• gets a Youth Training Allowance
• has been in an NHS hospital for more than 52 weeks
• is in prison
• normally lives elsewhere
• is a full-time student
• gets Pension Credit
• gets Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income based) or Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
• is severely mentally impaired (Council Tax only)

Deduction rates are available on our Non-Dependant Deductions page.

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What can I do if I disagree with a CTR decision?

If you disagree with a Council Tax Reduction decision, you can download, print and complete a  Council Tax Reduction Disputes Form (PDF, 833KB) to write to us asking us to look at the decision again. You should contact us within one month of the date of our decision letter telling us what you disagree with and why.

Once we have considered your request we will write to you to explain any changes we have made, or to explain why we cannot change our decision.

How do I appeal a CTR decision?

If you still disagree with our decision, you can appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal for England (external link). The Valuation Tribunal is an independent body.

There are strict time limits for appealing to the Valuation Tribunal:

• If we reply to you within two months, you have a further two months from the date of our reply to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.
• If we do not reply to your dispute within two months of you first contacting us, you can appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal. You must appeal within four months of the date that you disputed our decision.

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What happens if I go away?

Information about the rules that apply if you are away from home are on our Temporary Absence page.

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