Council Tax Benefit

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Council Tax Benefit is money off your Council Tax bill.

How much reduction you get depends on your circumstances – eg your income, if you have children.

You can get other types of help to pay your Council Tax if:

• you live with another adult (who isn’t your partner) – known as the Second Adult Rebate
• your benefits have stopped

You can apply for Council Tax Benefit whether you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

[box type=”warning”] Council Tax Benefit is ending in April 2013. It will be replaced by other schemes. Contact your local council for more details. [/box]

Eligibility

You may get Council Tax Benefit if:

• you pay Council Tax
• you’re on a low income or claiming benefits
• your savings are below a certain level – usually £16,000

You can apply if you own your home, rent, live rent-free, are unemployed or working.

Who isn’t eligible

Usually, you won’t get Council Tax Benefit if:

• your savings are over £16,000 – unless you get Guarantee credit of Pension Credit
• you’re an asylum seeker or sponsored to be in the UK

Second Adult Rebate

You may get Second Adult Rebate if the person you share your home with is:

• 18 or over
• not your partner
• on a low income
• not paying you rent
• not paying Council Tax themselves

You may get the Second Adult Rebate even if you don’t get Council Tax Benefit.

If your circumstances change

Tell your local council if your circumstances change as this can affect how much you get.

For example, a child leaves school, someone moves in or out or someone in your home starts work or volunteering.

What You Could Get

Council Tax Benefit is a reduction (money off) your Council Tax bill.

The most Council Tax Benefit you can get is a 100% reduction. How much get depends on:

• where you live
• your household income – this includes things like savings (over £6,000), pension, your partner’s income
• if your children live with you
• if other adults live with you

Your council will send you a bill showing how much your reduction is and what you have to pay

Second Adult Rebate

Instead of Council Tax Benefit you may qualify for a Second Adult Rebate.

This is a Council Tax Bill reduction based on the circumstances of another adult in your home.

Second adult circumstances	Council Tax bill reduction
On Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit	25%
Weekly income less than £180.00 (before tax)	15%
Weekly income between £180.00 and £234.99 (before tax)	7.5%

How to Claim

If you’re claiming other benefits

Contact Jobcentre Plus to claim Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) with your claim for the following benefits:

• Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance

Jobcentre Plus will send details of your claim to your local council.

If you’re claiming Pension Credit

Contact the Pensions Service to claim Council Tax Benefit (including Second Adult Rebate) with your claim for Pension Credit.

The Pensions Service will send details of your claim to your local council.

If you’re not claiming other benefits

Get a Council Tax Benefit form from your local council or send them form HCTB1.

What you need to know

You might be able to get your claim backdated – ask your local council.

You can claim in advance, up to 13 weeks (or 17 weeks if you’re 60 or over). for example, because you’re moving.