The Council Tax Reduction Scheme is a Social Security benefit administered by a Local Authority, to help people pay their Council Tax.
There are two kinds of benefit to help with Council Tax:
Anyone who has to pay Council Tax can apply for help through the Council Tax Reduction scheme. This is means tested, based on your income and circumstances. To find out more, visit our Council Tax Reduction Scheme page.
If you have other adults living with you, for example an adult son or daughter, but you are the only person who has to pay Council Tax on your home, you can apply for help through the Second Adult Rebate scheme.
You cannot get Council Tax Reduction and Second Adult Rebate at the same time. If your circumstances mean that you are entitled to both benefits, you will get the one which takes the most money off your Council Tax bill.
Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit is a Social Security benefit administered by a Local Authority, to help people on a low income to pay their rent.
What information do we use to work out your benefit?
When we work out your Housing and Council Tax Reduction we take account of the following details:
- How much money you have coming in each week.
- How much you have in savings and investments.
- Who lives in your household.
- The circumstances of any other adults who live with you.
If you rent your home from a private landlord we will use the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rules, which are based on the number of bedrooms your family need and not the size of the property you rent.
For more information on Local Housing Allowance you can follow the link on the right hand side of this page.
The form for claiming Housing and Council Tax Reduction can be downloaded from our Benefits Related Forms page, which is listed on the right hand side of this page. You will only have to fill in one form to apply for all the different types of benefit.