Council Tax Reduction (CTR): How to Apply in the UK

Council Tax Reduction used to be called Council Tax Benefit. You could be eligible if you are on a low income or claim benefits.

• You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.
• What you get depends on where you live, because each council runs its own scheme.
• It depends on your circumstances, for example income, number of children, benefits and residency status.
• It depends on your household income, which includes savings, pensions and your partner's income.
• It depends on whether your children live with you and whether other adults live with you.
• There is a different scheme in Northern Ireland.

GOV.UK says you could be eligible if you are on a low income or claim benefits. The detail depends on the nation you live in.

Wales: who can apply

• ✓Yes: Receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income related Employment Support Allowance, Pension Credit or Universal Credit.
• ✓Yes: In work.
• ✓Yes: Unemployed.
• ✓Yes: Unable to work due to illness or disability.
• ✓Yes: Caring for a child or an adult.
• ✓Yes: Retired.

Wales: who cannot get it

• ✗No: You are under 65 and have capital of £16,000 or more.
• ✗No: You are 65 or over and have capital of £16,000 or more, unless you or your partner receives the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit.

Scotland

• Ask your local council if you are eligible. It will check your household income, savings and other circumstances, including if there are children living in your household, if you or anyone living with you has a disability, and if you are claiming certain state benefits.

GOV.UK says your household income, which includes savings, pensions and your partner's income, affects what you get. The official sources describe the nations like this:

Capital in Wales

• For a pensioner, the Welsh regulations treat capital as a weekly income of £1 for each £500 in excess of £10,000 but not exceeding £16,000.
• For an applicant who is not a pensioner, capital is treated as a weekly income of £1 for each complete £250 in excess of £6,000 but not exceeding £16,000.

If you cannot keep up with payments, see our council tax debt guide.

The Valuation Tribunal for England says your council sets the scheme and decides whether you are entitled to help with your bill, and that if you think its decision is wrong you may be able to appeal, which is a free service.

• Before you appeal, you must have already contacted your local council to explain what the problem is, and the council should reply within 2 months.
• You must make the appeal within 2 months from the date on the decision.
• If the council does not reply within 2 months, you can still appeal, within 4 months from the date you first contacted the council.
• The Tribunal cannot hear appeals about the fairness of the council's scheme, and can only decide if the council has applied its scheme correctly in your case.

GOV.UK says you get 25% off your bill if you pay Council Tax and either you live on your own or everyone else in your home is disregarded, and 50% off if everyone living in your household is disregarded. You need to apply for a Council Tax discount or an exemption, even if you are disregarded.

• You are disregarded, among other cases, if you are a full-time student at college or university, a student nurse, severely mentally impaired, or a live-in carer for someone who is not your partner, spouse, or child under 18.
• Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax.
• You might be able to apply for a discount if you or someone you live with is severely mentally impaired, and you will need a certificate from a medical professional such as your GP.
• In England, if you qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme, your bill is reduced to the next lowest Council Tax band.

See our council tax exemptions guide for properties that are exempt.

• Contact your council as soon as possible if you are struggling to pay your Council Tax or are behind with your payments.
• You can choose to spread your payments over 12 months instead of the usual 10 to reduce the amount you are asked to pay on each bill.
• Your council may give you a one-off discount if you still cannot pay what you owe.
• GOV.UK also says to check if you are eligible for Council Tax Reduction if you are on a low income or get benefits.

If the debt has become unmanageable, see our dealing with debt guide.