Calculating Second Adult Rebate

Logo of Cut your Council Tax campaign Second Adult Rebate is a form of Council Tax Benefit but instead of being based on your income and savings, it is based on the income of the second adult(s) who live with you. So even if your income is too high to claim Council Tax Benefit, you may still be able to receive 2AR.

The person who is liable for the Council Tax must be the one who makes the claim and not the 2nd adult.

The intention of 2AR is to compensate, in full or in part, for the loss of a Council Tax discount because of the presence of a 'second adult', or non dependant, in the household, where they are receiving a low income.

Second Adults

A second adult could, for example, be an adult son or daughter, an elderly relative or a friend.

But a second adult cannot be

Liable for Council Tax in that property
A partner of the liable person
A jointly liable person, i.e. a joint owner or joint tenant
A person who is disregarded for Council Tax discount purposes
Living with more than one liable person generally a couple are not be entitled to 2AR.
Someone who pays rent this does not include 'housekeeping payments'

The Amount

2AR is based on the total income of the second adult or adults. The amount of the reduction would be between 7.5 percent and 25 percent of the total Council Tax bill after any deductions are made.

Which benefit?

If you are not sure whether you wish to claim Council Tax Benefit or Second Adult Rebate you should complete one application form and we will consider you for both.

Sometimes you will be eligible for both main Council Tax Benefit and 2nd Adult Rebate. In these cases you will be awarded which ever is the higher amount of benefit, this is called the 'Better Buy'.

For more information please go to our Council Tax pages.

Contact Us

By telephone

020 7525 1880 - housing and council tax benefit
020 7525 1850 - council tax

By post

Council Tax Section
London Borough Of Southwark
P.O. Box 782
Bromley
BR1 3YE

Please indicate which department your query is for.

In person

Bermondsey One Stop Shop
Spa Road
Bermondsey
SE16 3QN

Peckham One Stop Shop
Ground Floor
Peckham Library
122 Peckham Hill Street
SE15 5JR

Walworth One Stop Shop
151 Walworth Road
London
SE17 1RY

Dulwich Area Housing Office
41-43 East Dulwich Road
Dulwich
SE22 9BY

By email

Housing/council tax benefit: souhousingbenefitsuk@liberata.com
Council tax: Soucounciltaxuk@Liberata.com