Benefit Claims
You should claim Council Tax Benefit as soon as you think you need help with payment of your Council Tax. Benefit is normally paid from the Monday after the date we receive your claim form.
The following people, who are liable for Council Tax, may claim Council tax Benefit:
- Council Tenants
- Private Tenants
- Owner/Occupiers
- Any other person liable
Most people will be eligible to claim benefit, dependent on their circumstances, but benefit will not be awarded to help people pay in respect of second homes.
In the cases of couples, one partner will claim on behalf of both and entitlement will be calculated on joint incomes and deducted from the household bill.
The amount of Benefit allowed will be calculated after the award of any discounts.
The most benefit you may receive is all the Council Tax bill dependent upon your income and the other adults that live with you.
Please ask for a leaflet if you want further details on how other adults may affect your entitlement.
Pension Credits
There are now two benefits available for pensioners. The Pension Credit is made up of two parts – a Guarantee Credit if you are 60 or over which tops up your income to a guaranteed level, and a Savings Credit if you are 65 and over and have certain types of income or capital. You can be able to claim either or both parts of the Pension Credit depending on your individual circumstances.
To apply you need to telephone a freephone number 0800 99 1234.
The lines are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.
You can find out more about the new Pension credit from the Pension Service website.
Benefit Calculation
If you are not on Income Support, or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, the amount of benefit you will receive will depend on these four things:
- capital/Savings (see table below)
- income
- family Circumstances
- Council Tax amount
The effect of savings on Council Tax benefit
|
Savings |
Effect on Benefit |
|
Less than £6000 |
Savings not taken into account for calculation purposes |
|
£6000 - £16,000 |
Benefit allowed, but for every £250 or part over £6,000 income used for calculation purposes is increased by £1 |
|
Over £16,000 |
Benefit will not be awarded |
You can get more information on Council Tax Benefit by visiting our Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit page.
Second Adult Rebate
Second adult rebate can be awarded to the person liable for the Council Tax, in respect of persons sharing their home where they do not want to claim main Council Tax benefit or have no entitlement.
There is no entitlement to second adult rebate where persons are jointly liable for the payment of Council Tax such as married or unmarried couples and joint tenants.
To qualify for a second adult rebate the second adult(s) must be aged over 18 and not have to pay rent to the liable Council Taxpayer.
Second adult rebate is applied to 100% of the liable person’s Council Tax liability.
Although the liable person must make the claim it is only the income of the second adult(s) that needs to be disclosed. The claimant must however provide evidence to confirm their National Insurance number.
This following list confirms the conditions that need to be satisfied to enable a claim for second adult rebate to be made:
You will only qualify for second adult rebate if:
- there is more than one person in the Household
- they are not a ‘couple’ or have joint liability
- the second person(s) has a low income
- the liable person does not qualify for more Council Tax Benefit that the amount of "second adult rebate".
The liable person will have to claim second adult rebate by completing the Benefit claim form.
Proof of the second adults’ gross income and savings will have to accompany the completed form.
Please note: Only original documents are acceptable to confirm income and savings.
Download the Housing and Council Tax Benefit claim form - 
168kb
Download notes to help you complete the claim form - 25kb