Council tax reduction

You may be eligible for a council tax reduction to assist with your council tax payments. If you are receiving Universal Credit, you can still apply for a reduction. 

There are two council tax reduction schemes available: 

  • National Scheme: This is designed for residents who are of pensionable age
  • Local Scheme: This applies to residents who are of working age

View our council tax reduction scheme for residents of working age

How to claim council tax reduction

You can make a claim for council tax reduction online.

Our online form guides you through the information you need to give us and the evidence we require to support your claim.

Make a claim for council tax reduction

If you need advice on making your claim, call our benefits team on (01788) 533433.

Change in circumstances - council tax reduction

If you're receiving council tax reduction to help pay your council tax you must report any changes in your circumstances as soon as they occur. If you delay telling us, you will have to repay any council tax reduction that has been overpaid to you. If you delay telling us about a change and your council tax reduction increases you could lose money.

The following are examples of changes you must tell us about:

  • Changes in the amount of money you or your partner receives. This could be from wages, other benefits, pensions, etc
  • Changes in the amount of money received by anyone else who shares your home
  • All changes to the household (ie people moving in, people moving out, baby being born, etc)
  • Changes to the amount of savings/capital you or your partner has
  • You or your partner go into hospital for more than six weeks
  • You or your partner become a student, or stop being a student

You can tell us about a change in your circumstances by completing our online form.

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