THOUSANDS of households can cut their council tax bill by up to £2,100 a year by filling in an easy form.
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for some help towards your council tax.
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Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
If you find yourself struggling to pay your bill, you may also be able to get a deferral or speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.
However, those on low incomes can get their council tax bills reduced by up to 100%.
With the average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England currently standing at £2,171, it means households could potentially save thousands of pounds a year.
The highest possible council tax is for people who live in Band H properties in Rutland, where they will be charged a hefty £5,087 each year.
This year is the first time that this levy has cleared £5,000 for any household.
While most of us have more modest payments, the sharp rises may leave many families feeling the pinch, especially against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis.
Here’s how you could get a discount on your council tax bill.
Who’s eligible for the support?
Those on low incomes are usually eligible for council tax support.
This reduces the amount of council tax you have to pay.
The size of the discount you get depends on your income.
There is a maximum discount of 75%, unless you qualify as a member of a protected group, but this will vary from council to council.
For example, households in Leeds can claim up to 100% discount on their council tax if they fall into the following groups:
- pensioners
- disabled people entitled to an Enhanced or Severe Disability Premium
- lone parents responsible for one or more dependent children under five, they must not have a partner living with them
- carers eligible for Carer’s Allowance
- war widows and war pensioners, who must be in receipt of a War Widows Pension, War Disablement Pension or Armed Forces Compensation Payment
Meanwhile, households in Wandsworth, London, can get a 100% discount if they receive any of the following benefits:
- Disability Living allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Payment
- Carer’s Allowance
Across the country, you may be eligible for Council Tax Support if you:
- Live in the UK
- Pay council tax
- Are on a low income
Each council runs its own council tax support scheme.
Local authorities are given a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.
Eligibility requirements will vary depending on where you live – so check directly with your council if you could get the cash help.
You can find out all of this information at www.gov.uk/apply-for-council-tax-discount.
Who can get a discount on their council tax?
Single person discount
If you’re the only adult in your home, you can get a 25% discount on your council tax bill.
This includes if you’re a single parent with children under the age of 18 in the house.
Normally, you’ll need to let your local council know to get the reduction.
You can find your council’s contact details on GOV.UK. You might need to set up an account with to apply.
Even if there are other adults in your home, you might still get the 25% reduction, as some groups of people are “disregarded” for council tax purposes.
As long as all the other adults in your household are disregarded, you’ll still get the 25% discount.
And if everyone in the household – including you – is disregarded, you get a 50% reduction in council tax.
Retirees
Pensioners can also get a council tax discount, including those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit who can get 100% off.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And of course, if you are a pensioner living alone but not on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you can still get 25% off.
Low-income households
Low-income households or those on benefits can also apply for a reduction on their council tax.
Whether you are eligible depends on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
Contact your local council as soon as possible though as that will stop you from landing in trouble.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
If someone has died
If you’re selling a property because the owner has died, you don’t pay council tax until after probate is granted, as long as the house remains empty.
After probate, you might be able to get a six-month exemption, as long as the property remains empty and ownership hasn’t changed hands.
Other council tax bill help
If you’re not eligible for a council tax discount or can’t move bands, there are some other options.
Section 13A relief
You can make an application for what is called “discretionary relief” for your council tax bill by filling out a Section 13A application.
All local authorities must have a Section 13A scheme where a person can request for their council tax to be reduced or written off.
But you will most likely have to prove you are in financial hardship and all other avenues to get money off the bill have been explored.
You can request a Section 13A form from your local council.
Once you’ve sent it to your local authority, you should be told about a decision within 14 days.
Council tax disability reduction scheme
You can get your bill slashed if you or someone in your home is classed as “substantially and permanently disabled” and one of the following applies:
- there’s a room in the property which is used to meet your needs (such as for the purposes of dialysis or the storage of health equipment)
- there’s a second bathroom or kitchen designed to meet your needs
- there’s enough space in your home to allow wheelchair access
If the above criteria is met, your council tax bill is reduced to the next lowest band.
If you are already in band A, the lowest band, your bill is reduced by a sixth.
You should contact your council about getting this type of reduction.
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