What is Council Tax Benefit?

The purpose of the Council Tax Benefit scheme is to help people who are on a low income to pay their Council Tax.  As with Housing Benefit, you may be eligible for help even if you are working (either on an employed or self-employed basis) because do not need to be claiming a state benefit from the Department for Work & Pensions or The Pension, Disability and Carers Service to be eligible for help.

There are two types of benefit

• Main Council Tax Benefit: which is based on the low income of the person responsible for paying the Council Tax
• Second Adult Rebate: which is based on the low income of a second adult living in the property.  It compensates for the loss of the 25% Single Person Discount that is awarded when someone lives on their own

For the purposes of Second Adult Rebate, a second adult is someone other than the customer's partner, a joint owner or tenant, or a boarder, lodger or sub-tenant.  There can be more than one "second adult" in the property, but the person liable to pay the Council Tax must apply for Second Adult Rebate (by completing a claim form) and supply the income and capital details of the second adult(s).

Both main Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate are "paid" by crediting the Council Tax account, which reduces the on-going instalments that need to be paid.

Will I qualify for any help?

This depends on a number of factors including

• How much income you have, and what type of income it is
• How much capital (savings) you have
• Who else lives with you
• How much your rent or Council Tax is

Unless you are in receipt of a Guaranteed Pension Credit, if you have capital (savings) of more than £16,000 you will not be entitled to either Housing or Council Tax Benefit.

Benefits Calculator

The Benefits Calculator will provide you with an estimate of how much you might be entitled to, or alternatively free impartial advice can be obtained from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

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