What is Council Tax Benefit?
Who can claim Council Tax Benefit?
How much will I get?
Will my benefit be reduced if other adults live with me?
Is there another benefit I may be entitled to that will help me with my bill?
How is benefit paid?
How do I claim Council Tax Benefit?
Owner Occupiers
Self Employed
It is a scheme for providing help with council tax bills for people who have low incomes. Information on Council Tax Benefit in other languages is also available from the Department of Work and Pensions.
Anyone who is liable to pay council tax on the property they live in is entitled to make a claim for benefit.
You can check what entitlement you may have to benefit using a Benefits Entitlement Calculator. You should still submit a benefit claim form if you think you are entitled to benefit. This depends on your income and family circumstances. The maximum you can get is 100% of your council tax bill meaning you will have nothing to pay. It will apply if you get income support and have no other adults living with you apart from your partner or spouse.
People aged 18 or over who live with you can be expected to pay something towards your council tax bill. Your benefit will be reduced by the amount they are required to contribute which can vary depending upon their income and circumstances. However, no reduction is made for other adults if for example they are on Income Support or YTS, are a Carer, Student, Prisoner or a Hospital Patient.
If you are liable to pay council tax and are single or treated as single for council tax purposes, it is possible to claim a rebate for other adults in your household (like a son or a daughter) if they are on low incomes. This benefit is called Second Adult Rebate and is based on their incomes instead of your own.
If you are entitled to Main Council Tax Benefit or Second Adult Rebate your bill will be reduced by the amount of the award.
If you have not claimed before and you make a claim for Income Support, a form is included for Council Tax Benefit which you should complete and return to your Benefits Agency. If you qualify for Income Support they will send the form on to the council together with the appropriate authorisation to pay benefit. If you do not wish to claim Income Support or have been refused it because your income is above the entitlement level, you can claim Council Tax Benefit directly from the council.
Application forms are available at any of the Customer Service Centres.
There is no benefit service at the Civic Centre Customer Service Centre for owner occupiers. If you wish to claim benefit or have any queries relating to Council Tax Benefit they will be dealt with by your local Neighbourhood Housing Office.
A special benefit section dealing only with the self employed who wish to claim Housing / Council Tax Benefit is located at the Civic Centre Customer Service Centre.
Phone: 0191 278 7878.
Page last updated: 20 April, 2012
