Second Adult Rebate

Who can claim?

If you are the only person living in your home who is liable to pay the Council Tax but share your home with one or more persons who are over 18 and they:

• Are not paying you rent for living in your home
• Do not have to pay the Council Tax
• They are not your spouse or partner
• Have a low gross income

you can claim Second Adult Rebate in respect of them as long as they are not disregarded. Some disregarded people groups are:

• People under 18 or aged 18 if Child Benefit is payable
• Education leavers under 20
• Various students, foreign language assistants and student nurses
• Youth training trainees under 25
• Apprentices on NCVQ/SVEC courses
• People who are severely mentally impaired
• Carers
• People in prison or other forms of detention
• People who normally live elsewhere
• Members of religious communities
• Diplomats and members of international bodies or of visiting forces

See our pages on Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions for further information about disregarded people.

In order to do this you will need to complete one of our application forms and provide us with the gross income details of all other adults who live with you. You can request a this form by contacting us: Please see Benefits contacts page for further details.

You do not have to supply us with details of your own income or savings; however, if you do we will also do a calculation to see if you are entitled to Main Council Tax Benefit based on your details.

Once the calculation for Main Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate have been made we will compare the amounts of benefit (if any) and award you the greater entitlement (please note that you are not entitled to both).

How is Second Adult Rebate calculated?

• Second Adult Rebate is calculated using the combined gross income of all second adults. It is awarded on a percentage basis of your Council Tax bill, after any transitional reductions that you are entitled to, are deducted.
• If all second adults are in receipt of Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (income based) you will be entitled to a 25% discount from your Council Tax bill.
• If all second adults have a combined gross income of less than £131.00 per week you will be entitled to a 15% discount from your Council Tax bill.
• If all second adults have a combined gross income of between £131.00 to £169.99 per week you will be entitled to a 7.5% discount from your Council Tax bill.
• If all second adults have a combined gross income that is more that £169.99 per week you will not be entitled to a Second Adult Rebate.

Please be aware that any Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based), Attendance Allowance, and/or Disability Living Allowance, received by any second adult will be disregarded in the calculation of the second adults’ gross income.

More information

For further help and advice please contact the Housing Benefits Team.