Other council tax discounts

Criteria to qualify for a discount

If you meet any of the following criteria, please complete our online form

Apprentice

Able to supply a completed apprentice certificate form (available below) which must be signed and stamped by the employer of the apprentice or supply a copy of the employment contract be attached showing the start and end date of the apprenticeship, income earned is no more than £195.00 per week and confirmation the apprentice is employed for the purpose of learning a trade, business, profession, employment, or vocation and is undertaking a programme of training leading to a qualification accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency.

Carer

The carer must supply care for at least 35 hours per week. The person they care for must not be a spouse, partner, or child under the age of 18 years old. The person receiving care must be in receipt of one of the following benefits. and able to send in proof of the benefit with the application.

Attendance Allowance

Highest or Middle Rate of the Care Component of Disability Living Allowance.

Income Support where the appropriate amount includes a disability premium

An increase in Disablement Pension due to requiring constant attendance

An increase in Constant Attendance Allowance due to severe disablement.

Full-time student

A full-time student is a person studying for at least 24 weeks of the year. If the student is under 20 years old, they must be studying for at least 12 hours per week. If the student is 20 years old or over, they must be studying for at least 21 hours per week. A student certificate issued by the student’s college or university must be attached the application form confirming the student is a full-time student.

A student’s foreign spouse/dependant

The foreign spouse/dependant must live in the same property as a qualifying student and be prevented, by the terms of the spouse/dependents leave to enter or remain in the UK, from taking paid employment or from taking claiming benefit. A copy of the visa for the spouse/dependent, issued by the Home Office must be attached to the application form confirming the preventions.

Person in detention

Must be able to supply the prisoner reference number, name and address of prison, where held and start date of detention.

Patient of a hospital or residential care home

A person can be disregarded from council tax if they been in hospital either on a long-term stay (greater than six months) or when there is little likelihood that they will return home. A signed and stamped letter from the hospital where the person to be disregarded is staying must be attached to the application form confirming the date admitted to hospital, the date of intended return home (if known), their doctor’s signature and the hospital stamp.

If the person to be disregarded is living in a Care Home on a permanent basis, we will require to know the name and address of the Care Home and the date of admittance.

Severe mental impairment

Severe mental impairment disregard or exemption can be awarded when a person is occupying a property, in the opinion of their doctor is severely mentally impaired and in receipt of one of the following benefit entitlements.

Universal Credit with limited capability for work/work-related activity

Severe Disablement Allowance.

Highest or middle rate of Disability Living Allowance care component.

Unemployability Supplement

Disability Working Allowance

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Employment and Support Allowance (work related activity).

The daily living component of a Personal Independence Payment.

Unemployability Supplement/Allowance.

Other possible discounts

You may also be entitled to a discount if you are:

  • a person under 20 years of age undertaking further education
  • a member of a religious community
  • a person aged 18 where child benefit is payable for him/her
  • a school/college leaver under 20 years old between 30 April - 1 November
  • a member of a visiting force or an international headquarters and defence organisation.

If you wish to apply for any of the above or require advice or assistance please contact us.

Reductions for people with a disability

Adapted homes for disabled people may get disabled band reduction. This means that council tax can be one band lower than normal.

We may be able to reduce your bill if you, or someone who lives with you, is "substantially and permanently" disabled

If you qualify your council tax charge will reduce by one property band, even if your property is in B and A.

Your home must be adapted to meet the needs of the disabled resident. and must have at least one of the following:

  • an extra bathroom or extra kitchen which is necessary to meet the needs of the disabled person
  • a room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) which is mainly used by the disabled person
  • enough floor space which has been created to use a wheelchair indoors
  • The room or the wheelchair must be essential. It must be important to the person's well-being due to the nature and extent of their disability.

Stair lifts, handrails and other fixtures do not qualify for the reduction.

A disabled person means, a person who is substantially and permanently disabled. The disabled person can be an adult or a child and does not have to be responsible for paying the council tax bill.

If you think that you may qualify for a reduction, please use the link to make your online application

online form