Council tax benefit

Please see our Benefits advice page for advice, guidance and assistance with the full range of welfare benefits. You can also use our Benefits calculator to find out how much Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit you may claim.

Can I get Council Tax Benefit?

To qualify for Council Tax Benefit, you must:

• Be on a low income.
• Be the person responsible for paying the Council Tax.

You will not normally qualify for benefit if you have savings or investments of more than £16,000.

Use our online benefits calculator to see what help you can get.

Applying

If you are not sure if you qualify, make a claim. You can get an application form from your nearest One Stop Shop or by calling our Contact Centre. You can also download the form, and a change of address form - if you need it, here:

• Council Tax Benefit application form.
• Council Tax Benefit application  form - guidance notes.
• Your/your partner's proof of income.
• Change of address form.

What happens next?

Once you have made a claim, we will calculate how much Council Tax Benefit is due by looking at:

• How much money you have coming in.
• Any savings you may have.
• Your personal circumstances.
• The amount of Council Tax you have to pay.

Other questions you might have

How much Council Tax will I pay?

If you have applied for and are entitled to Council Tax Benefit from the beginning of April, the amount of benefit shown on your Council Tax bill is the total benefit for the whole year. This may change if your circumstances change during the year. Benefit can only be backdated for special reasons.

What can I do if my claim is refused?

If you are not happy with our decision about your claim for Council Tax Benefit, you can make an appeal .

How long will it take?

If you take your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit claim form to one of our One Stop Shops, along with all the evidence required to support your claim, we promise to write to you within 10 days to tell you how much benefit you will get.

Second Adult Rebate

Second Adult Rebate is a different kind of Council Tax Benefit for single people who have to pay Council Tax and who have other adults on a low income living in the household.

It can be claimed by anyone who does not have a partner, but only if they do not qualify for the Council Tax single person discount because they share their home with another person, who is aged 18 or older, is on a low income, and does not pay them rent.