Council Tax Benefit
Please select an option:
- Apply for Council Tax Benefit
- Who can claim?
- Second Adult Rebate
- How do I claim?
- Tell us about a change in your circumstances
- Tell us about a change in your address
- View details of your benefit claim online
- Other information
Apply for Council Tax Benefit
Council Tax benefit could help pay towards some, or all, of your Council Tax bill if you are on a low income, even if you own your home. The maximum amount of Council Tax benefit payable is 100% of the charge. The amount of help will depend on your income, personal and family circumstances. The Council will ignore any income you may get from war pensions or widows pensions.
Who can claim?
You may be eligible for Council Tax benefit if you:
- Claim state benefit e.g. Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or State Retirement Pension
- Work full or part time but earn a low wage. You might also have children and be claiming Working and / or Child Tax Credit
- Share your home with one adult or more who cannot pay towards Council Tax. This is called Second Adult Rebate.
You can get an estimate of your Council Tax Benefit using our benefits calculator . You will need your annual Council Tax bill.
Second Adult Rebate
Second adult rebate is help with your council tax bill if you share your home with one or more adults. Is the person who shares your home:
- Aged 18 or over?
- Not your partner?
- Not paying you rent?
- Not liable to pay council tax themselves?
If you can answer yes to all of these, then you may qualify for second adult rebate.
Second adult rebate is based on the circumstances of the person who shares your home. Your income and savings will not affect second adult rebate.
If you are entitled to council tax benefit and second adult rebate we will pay the one which gives you the most money.
How do I claim?
You can apply for Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate by:
- Downloading and completing the Housing and Council Tax Benefit Claim Form
- Contacting Benefits
- Using our online E-claim form
Your Council Tax benefit will normally be deducted from the Council Tax bill that we send you.
If you are already receiving Housing or Council Tax Benefit but the benefit payment amount does not cover your total rent/council tax bill and you are suffering hardship as a result, then you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Tell us about a change in your circumstances.
If you are already getting Housing or Council Tax benefit and your personal or household details change, you must tell us immediately. If you don’t tell us about a change and we pay you too much benefit, you will probably have to pay it back.
You must tell us if:
- The money you or your partner get changes
- You change address (see below)
- Anyone moves in or out of the home
- The amount of capital or savings you have changes
- You or your partner are going to be away from home for more than a month
- Anything you previously told us changes
You can download and complete the Housing and Council Tax Benefit Change in Circumstance Form or let Benefits know your new circumstances straightaway.
If you are considering a change, you can see the potential changes to all other benefits you receive at the Department for Work and Pensions' Benefit Advisor web page.
Tell us about a change in your address
If you already receive Housing or Council Tax benefit and you are moving address, it is very important that you tell us immediately. Any delay may affect the date the benefit is paid from and the amount you may receive.
You can download and complete the Housing and Council Tax Benefit Change of Address Form or let Financial Services know straightaway.
View details of your benefit claim online
You can view a range of your own personal information through this website, including benefits and council tax information. For example you can check how your benefit has been worked out and what letters have been sent to you about your claim. You can also view your Council Tax bill online and sign up for e-billing.
Go to online services for more details.
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