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Council Tax Discounts

People in your property
Discounts
Applying for a discount

Council Tax is based on the assumption that there are at least two adults (people aged 18 or over) living in the property.

There are circumstances when a discount can be awarded

If there is only one adult we could reduce your Council Tax bill by 25% (one quarter)
If there are no adults we could reduce your Council Tax bill by 50% (one half)

If your property is empty or is a second home please refer to the Empty properties and second homes section.

People in your property

For Council Tax purposes some people are not counted as living in your home when we work out how much you have to pay. The list below gives a brief description of these people.

People aged 18 for whom you receive child benefit
Recent school leavers who are under 20 years old
Students under 20 studying A-levels
Full time students attending a university or college
Student nurses (ie full time students attending college or university)
Foreign language assistants
Foreign partners or dependants of students
Youth Trainees
Apprentices
People in prison and other forms of detention
People who are severely mentally impaired
Certain carers
Hospital patients
People in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels providing a high amount of care
Members of international headquarters and defence organisations and their dependants
A person who has diplomatic, Commonwealth or consular privilege or immunity
Members of visiting forces
Members of religious communities
People living in certain hostels, night shelters and other places for those with no home

Discounts

The following information provides the necessary criteria and the information and proof you should supply.

18 years and child benefit

Criteria - People aged 18 years for whom you receive child benefit.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, together with proof of child benefit. This should be either a copy of the first two pages of your child benefit book or an official letter.

Recent school leavers under 20 years old

Criteria - People under the age of 20 who left school or college on or after May 1, having finished a qualifying course of education in the same year.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property and the name of the course and establishment, together with proof of child benefit. This should be either a copy of the first two pages of the child benefit book or an official letter.

Students under 20 years (A-levels)

Criteria - People under the age of 20 who are studying for a qualifying course of education, which is not higher education (eg A-levels).

The student's name
Date of birth
Name and level of the course
Start and end date of the course

Full time students*

Criteria - People taking a full-time course of education at a college or university.

The student's name
Date of birth
Name and level of the course
Start and end date of the course

Student nurses

Criteria - Nurses who are undertaking a full-time course of education at a college or university.

The student's name
Date of birth
Name and level of the course
Start and end date of the course

Foreign language assistants

Criteria - A person appointed as a foreign language assistant at a school or college in Great Britain who is registered with the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property together with a student certificate or a letter (on headed paper) from the school or college confirming the studies and a copy of the passport or visa belonging to the foreign student. The student certificate or letter must confirm

The student's name
Date of birth
Name and level of the course
Start and end date of the course

Foreign partners or dependants of students

Criteria - The partners or dependants of full time students from abroad, who are prevented from taking paid employment or claiming benefits.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property and their relationship to each other, together with proof of student and immigration status. This should be a student certificate or a headed letter from the school or college which must confirm

The student's name
Date of birth
Name and level of the course
Start and end date of the course

Youth trainees

Criteria - A person who is under the age of 25 years and undertaking training under a youth training arrangement.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, and the name and date of birth of the trainee, together with confirmation of the course they are undertaking. This should be from an official source, on headed paper.

Apprentices

Criteria - An apprentice is someone who fits ALL of the following criteria

Someone who is employed for the purpose of learning a trade, business, profession, office, employment or vocation
Someone who is undertaking a programme of training leading to a qualification accredited by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications
Someone who receives a salary and/or allowance which is substantially less than they would receive when the qualification has been achieved, and which is lower than £160.00 per week

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, and details of the person's employment and their salary. This should include the name and address of the employer, the name of the training programme and subsequent qualification, course dates and the salary. The documentation should be provided by the employer on headed paper.

People in detention

Criteria - A person who is detained by a court order, for example in a prison or hospital. This does not include detention for non-payment of fines or council tax.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property and that the person has been detained. This should include the date they were detained, the expected date of release, name of the establishment and any relevant reference. If someone else is dealing with this person's affairs please provide their name and address.

Severely mentally impaired

Criteria -

Invalidity benefit
Severe disablement allowance
Unemployability supplement
Disability working allowance
Higher or middle rate care component of a disability living allowance
Attendance allowance
Constant Attendance allowance
Incapacity Benefit under Section 30A of the Social Security (Contributions and Benefits) Act 1992
Incapacity Benefit under Sections 40 and 41 of the Social Security (Contributions and Benefits) Act 1992
Increased disablement pension for constant attendance

Requirements -

Carers

Criteria -

Higher rate of Attendance Allowance
Higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
An increase in their disablement pension
An increase in constant Attendance Allowance

The person receiving care cannot be the spouse, partner or child of the carer.

Requirements -

Care workers

Criteria - To be classified as a care worker for Council Tax purposes you will need to be

Resident in the same property as the person you are caring for and your accommodation is provided by them
Employed to provide this care and you were introduced through a charity or local authority
Earning no more than £36.00 per week
Working at least 24 hours per week

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, the full name of the person providing care and receiving it, their relationship to each other (eg friend, son), the number of hours of care provided, and the salary. This should be an official document confirming their employment and the salary.

Hospital patients

Criteria - A person who has their main residence in a hospital and whose intention is not to return to the current property. This does not include people who go into hospital for a few weeks and then return to their home.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, the name and address of the hospital, the date they went into hospital, how long they are likely to be away and whether they intend to return. If someone else is dealing with this person's affairs please also provide their name and address.

Residents of a nursing/care home or hostel providing care

Criteria - A person whose main residence is in a nursing/care home and who does not intend to return to their home. This does not include people who leave for a few weeks and then return to their home.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, the name and address of the home/hostel, the date they moved there, how long they are likely to be away and whether they intend to return. If someone else is dealing with this person's affairs please also provide their name and address. See also moving home.

International headquarters and defence organisations

Criteria - This relates to anyone who is a member of an international headquarters or defence organisation, as prescribed in the International Headquarters and Defence Organisations Act 1964. It also applies to their non-dependants.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property and their membership of an international headquarters or defence organisation. This should be from an official source.

Diplomatic Commonwealth or consular privilege or immunity

Criteria - This relates to a person whose privileges and immunity are detailed by one of the following

Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964
Commonwealth Secretariat Act 1996
Consular Relations Act 1968
Commonwealth Countries & Republic of Ireland (Immunities & Privileges) order 1985

They can also be a member of a specified organisation under the International Organisations Act 1968 or the head of an organisation specified in the Hong Kong Economic Trade Act 1996. They cannot be a British Citizen/subject.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property and their consular privilege or immunity. This should be confirmed by an official source.

Visiting forces

Criteria - A member or dependant of a member of visiting forces.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property and their status. This should be confirmed by an official source.

Religious community

Criteria - Members of a religious community where the main activities are prayer, contemplation, education and/or the relief of suffering. The person cannot have any income or capital of their own and they should be dependent upon the community for their material needs.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, the name and details of the religious community and details of any income and capital held by the individual.

Hostels/night shelters

Criteria - A person who for the time being is resident in a hostel or night shelter, providing the accommodation is not self contained and is primarily used for people with no fixed abode.

Requirements - Written confirmation of the number of adults resident in the property, the name of the person who is resident in the hostel/night shelter, and the address of the property in which they are resident.

Applying for a discount

To apply for a discount you can either download a Council Tax Discounts form or write to us. It is important that you provide all of the necessary information with your application.†

If you have applied for a discount you should continue to make payment in line with your current Council Tax bill. If it is then awarded you will be issued with a further bill and new payment instructions. This will take account of any payments you have already made.

*Note - a full time student is someone who is studying for at least 21 hours per week for 24 weeks of the year, at a prescribed educational establishment.

†In order to view the form you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Click here to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader.