Council Tax Reduction

You can apply if you:

• on a low income
• on a benefit, such as Universal Credit
• own or rent your home
• are unemployed or working
• are of working age or are already receiving a pension

We'll need to see documents to support your claim.

How much your bill will be reduced by depends on how much your Council Tax is and:

• whether you're of working or pension age
• your income and capital (including benefits, earnings and savings)
• your circumstances (for example, whether you have children or a partner)
• how many children live with you
• how many adults live with you

Use the benefits calculator to work out how much your Council Tax bill might be reduced by. The calculator is free to use, and the details you provide are anonymous.

You must continue paying while we decide and cancel your discount if your situation changes.

You must keep copies of your application and supporting documents when:

• making a new claim for Council Tax Reduction 

• changing an existing claim

You need to provide proof of identity and all of the following that apply to you and your partner (if claiming with them).

Identity

• National Insurance number (such as payslip, entitlement letter, National Insurance card or P60)
• proof of identity (such as a current passport, current driving licence, birth, marriage or civil partnership certificate, recent utility bill, Home Office papers or  current bank statement)
• right to claim public funds if you're not a UK citizen (such as a letter from the Home Office confirming your status or a passport showing your leave to remain)

Income

• Universal Credit statement (we do not need to see any other proof of income or savings if you're on Universal Credit)
• employment earnings (5 weekly, 3 fortnightly or 2 monthly payslips, or a letter from your employer confirming the details of your earnings)
• self-employment earnings (accounts for the previous year’s trading or full self-employment details)
• training course or apprenticeship details (confirmation letter from your employer, the name of the scheme, study details, relevant dates and amount of any allowance paid)
• student status (course confirmation from place of education, level and period of study, term dates, proof of any grants, loans, deeds or covenants)
• benefits (latest award notice confirming type of benefit and start date)
• State Pensions and tax credits (confirmation letter)
• maintenance, occupational pension or private pension details
• details of any other income (such as money from a boarder, an injury payment, money from friends, relatives or charities)

Child Benefit and childcare

• proof of Child Benefit for each child
• childcare costs (who and how much you pay, children's names, times that care is provided, changes to care agreement changes during school holidays or other times of year)

Income from adults (non-dependants)

• proof of income for each non-dependant adult living with you as part of your household, unless their total gross income is £406 or more a weeK

If you have any other adults living with you, your Council Tax Reduction amount may be reduced. This is a non-dependant deduction and is based on the non-dependant’s income.

Capital, savings and investments

The past 2 months’ statements for any money you or your partner have in a bank, building society, Post Office, savings plan, premium bonds, ISAs, shares, stocks, unit trusts, properties.

You can read our Council Tax Reduction Scheme policy (PDF, 1.82MB).

Apply for Council Tax Reduction

How we use your data