Council Tax Reduction scheme 2024/2025

This page describes how the scheme worked until 31 March 2025. Read about our new 2025/2026 scheme which took effect from 1 April 2025.

Council Tax Reduction is a means-tested discount, to help people on a low income who pay Council Tax for their home. It replaced Council Tax Benefit on 1 April 2013.

You have to apply to us for Council Tax Reduction, you do not receive it automatically. 

Read our Council Tax Reduction discount scheme 2024.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction discount if you are finding it difficult to pay your Council Tax. You must live in the accommodation for which you are making an application and be responsible for paying Council Tax at that property.

If any of the following apply you may not be eligible:

• You or your partner have capital of £16,000 or more (unless you or your partner receives a pension credit)
• You are not the person named on the Council Tax bill
• The property is not your main residence
• You are not entitled to Council Tax Reduction because of your immigration status in the UK
• You are a full-time student in higher education, unless you are also:
  • A lone parent
  • Disabled
  • Under 19 and following a further (not higher) education course
  • Aged 60 or over

A partner of a full-time student can claim Council Tax Reduction.

Even if you can't claim Council Tax Reduction, you may still be eligible for Second Adult Rebate if you are a pensioner or working age and vulnerable.

The level of discount depends on the amount of Council Tax you pay, the number of people who live with you and your household's income, savings and circumstances.

Working age households employed and/or receiving an out of work benefit

If members of your household are employed or receive an out of work benefit then:

• Any non-dependant deduction on your claim is doubled
• The maximum Council Tax Reduction you can receive is capped at Council Tax Band E. If your property is Band F, G or H then the maximum reduction you can receive is the Band E amount and you will have to pay the difference

Pensioners and working-age vulnerable

If you are a pensioner or a vulnerable working-age claimant, we will take this into account when we calculate the reduction you will receive.

• Any non-dependant deductions on your claim are not doubled. For more information on non-dependents read our other adult information
• The maximum Council Tax reduction you receive is not capped at Council Tax Band E.  e.g. If your property is in Band G then the maximum reduction you can receive is the Band G amount

See how we define pensioners and vulnerable working age claimants.

Note: From 1 April 2025, Second Adult Rebate is only available to pensioners, not vulnerable working age adults.

Non-dependant deductions

If anyone over 18 years old (apart from a partner) lives with you and does not reply on you for financial support, they are referred to as a 'non-dependant'. Living with a non-dependant can affect your benefits.

Non-dependants cannot claim Housing Benefit for any payments they make to you.

Depending on the non-dependant's circumstances and income, you may have some money deducted from your benefits. Any deductions are not related to what the non-dependant pays to you. They are fixed sums based on the non-dependant's gross weekly income and are made even if he or she does not actually give you any money to make up for the reduction.

Exceptions

No deductions are made if you or your partner is:

• Registered blind
• Receiving Attendance Allowance
• Receiving the care component of Disability Living Allowance (at any rate)

No deductions are made if the non-dependant:

• Is receiving Pension Credit
• Is aged under 18
• Is aged under 25 and on Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
• Is aged under 25 and in the assessment phase (first 13 weeks) of Employment Support  Allowance (income related)
• Is a prisoner
• Is a student (there is a deduction in the summer vacation if they take up paid employment)
• Has been in hospital for 52 weeks or more