Council Tax discounts

Full Council Tax is charged where two or more adults live in a property. If only one person lives in a property, a 25% rebate is given. This is called a 'single person discount'. You can apply for single person discount whether you live alone or with children, as long as they're under 18.

You can apply for single person discount online using your Council Tax account.

A guide is available to help you apply for a single person discount. A help guide is also available to help you cancel a single person discount.

In addition, some people are not counted in the number of adult residents. If, after discounting a person, the number of adult residents is only one, a 25% rebate is given. If all the residents are discounted, a 50% rebate is given.

Please note, single person discount is not available for properties which are empty.

A 50% reduction will apply (in addition to any discounts or levy) for people living in annexes who are relatives of the person liable for Council Tax on the main dwelling and for people who are using an annexe as part of their main residence.

You can apply by filling in the general enquiry form. Please say which discount you're applying for, and upload any supporting evidence.

• 18 or 19 year olds you're claiming child benefit for
• Students under 20 in further education, on recognised courses (for example, A-level, BTEC)
• 18 or 19 year olds who left school or college after 30 April, for the period between the end of their course and the following 1 November
• Full-time students or student nurses
• Youth training trainees and apprentices
• Non-British spouses of full-time students

• People who live with and care for a disabled person who is not their spouse, partner or child under 18
• People living in residential care homes, nursing homes or mental health nursing homes
• Long-term patients in hospital
• People who are severely mentally impaired and receive certain benefits (see 'Severe mental impairment discount/exemption' below)

Disabled banding reduction

If you have a disabled person of any age living in your household, you may be able to get a reduction in your Council Tax through disabled band reduction.

Disabled band reduction can be awarded if the property has been suitably adapted or built to cater for the wellbeing of the disabled person, and the property meets one or more of the following criteria:

• a) a room which is required for the needs of the disabled person and is mainly used by that disabled person (please note, there has to be a 'causal' link between the disability and the use of the room)
• b) a second bathroom or kitchen, required for meeting the needs of the disabled person
• c) extra space inside the property to allow for wheelchair access or movement

If you qualify, the amount your Council Tax will be reduced by is equivalent to your property being moved from its current band, to the next lowest valuation band. For example, if your property is currently in band C, it will be reduced to band B, and your new bill will show a band B charge. Find out about the charges for each band.

If your property is in band A, this is the lowest band and therefore can't be reduced any more. Instead, you'll get a reduction of 1/6 on your annual Council Tax charge.

For example, based on 2018/19 charges:

• The band A annual charge is £1245.41
• 1/6th of this is £207.56
• So the annual charge will be £1037.85

(£1245.41 - £207.56 = £1037.85)

A Council Tax bill is based on two adults living in a property. If one of the adults is severely mentally impaired, a 25% discount on Council Tax payments may be awarded. When a person with a severe mental impairment lives in a property on their own, they get an 100% exemption from Council Tax, which means they would have nothing to pay.

The definition of severe mental impairment is:

'Severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent.'

Examples of severe mental impairment include dementia, severe memory loss, a learning disability, a chronic mental illness, Parkinson's, or having suffered a stroke.

To get this discount, you need to get a letter from your doctor to confirm that the condition is permanent. You must also be entitled to one of the following qualifying benefits:

• Universal Credit (UC) including an element for limited capability for work or work-related activity
• Incapacity Benefit (short or long term) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA), either income-related or contributory
• Income Support (IS) which includes a disability premium because of incapacity for work
• Attendance Allowance (AA)
• The Standard or Enhanced Daily Living rate of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• The Highest or Middle rate Care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• An increase in the rate of disablement pension for constant attendance
• A disability working allowance
• The disability element of Working Tax Credit
• Constant Attendance Allowance payable under the Industrial Injuries or War Pension schemes
• Unemployability Allowance payable under the Industrial Injuries or War Pension schemes

To apply for the severe mental impairment discount/exemption, you'll need to complete the online application form. You'll need to fill in the required sections, and upload the proof from your doctor that you have a severe mental impairment which is permanent.

If you can't complete the online form, you can contact us on 01642 726006 and ask for a paper form to be sent to you. You'll still need to complete the form and send back to us.

Our phone lines are open Monday to Wednesday (10am to 4:30pm), and Friday (10am to 4pm). They are closed on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

We do not offer a discount for second homes, but there is an exception for job-related dwellings, which can be eligible for a 50% discount (or where another dwelling is not generally occupied because a job-related dwelling is the sole or main residence).

Examples include publicans who are required to live in the licensed premises of which they are tenant, a minister of any religious denomination with a residence from which he performs the duties of his office, and service personnel who are living in Ministry of Defence accommodation.

There are specific rules which determine entitlement to the discount.

To find out if you might be eligible, fill in the Council Tax enquiry form. You'll need to give us some basic details about your circumstances. We'll contact you to discuss your situation in more detail.

If you cannot use the online form, call us on 01642 726006.

Our phone lines are open Monday to Wednesday (10am to 4:30pm), and Friday (10am to 4pm). They are closed on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.