In England and Wales the discount scheme is national Click here to find out more.
In Scotland it depends on the local authority's policies: check on
mygov.scot.
Top tip – if your circumstances mean you should have been getting a discount in the past – let your Council know – discounts can be ‘backdated’.
There are different types of discounts:
- Discounts based on who lives in the household – which can reduce a Council Tax bill by anything from 25% to 100%.
- Second adult rebate – a 25% reduction could be given (instead of Council Tax Reduction/Support) if another adult (not partner) on a low income lives in the property
- Discounts for disability – which can mean the Council Tax bill drops by one band
Discounts based on who lives in the household
We have listed below the main rules for England and Wales. Similar rules could apply in Scotland – check with your council.
What you could get off your Council Tax bill:
- 25% discount if you live alone or if everybody else who lives with you is ‘invisible’.
- 50% discount if all the people living in your home (including yourself) are ‘invisible’ (but see next point about 100% discounts).
- 100% discount (meaning no bill to pay) if the only people living in your home (including yourself) are:
- Classed as severely mentally impaired,
- or
- Full time student/s (21hrs a week)
Who is ‘invisible’, so does not count as living in your property?
- Aged under 18,
- Full-time students, apprentices, & under 25’s on certain traineeships,
- Severely mentally impaired (see below),
- Certain carers (strict rules - see below),
- Anyone whose main home is elsewhere.
Severely mentally impaired means anyone who:
- ‘Has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent’
- and
- has a certificate from a registered medical practitioner confirming this,
- and
- is entitled to one of the following benefits:
-
- Personal Independence Payment daily living component
- DLA middle or high rate care component
- Attendance Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit and has a limited capability for work or work-related activity
- Working Tax Credit with disability element
- Income Support with disability premium
- Incapacity Benefit – any rate
- Severe Disablement Allowance
A carer is ‘invisible’ for Council Tax purposes if they are:
- caring for someone who lives in the same household, and who is not their partner or their child under 18,
- they spend 35 hours a week or more caring for them, and
- the person they care for gets the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, the high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or high rate Attendance Allowance.
NOTE: They do not need to be claiming Carer’s Allowance
NOTE: More than one carer can be ‘invisible’ – ie 2 carers both spending 35 hours pw caring for the same person.
The Disability Reduction Scheme
You may get a disability reduction if:
- You or someone else who lives with you is ‘substantially and permanently disabled’.
- (This can be an adult or child, whether or not they are related to you.)
- AND
- You have an extra bathroom or kitchen needed by the disabled person,
- or
- You have a room other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet which is used mainly by the disabled person,
- or
- You have extra space in your dwelling for that person to use a wheelchair indoors.
If you qualify for a disability reduction your Council Tax bill will be reduced to the amount payable in the band below yours, or if your property is in band A, it will be reduced proportionately.