Council Tax support if you’re on a low income or receive Universal Credit

Apply for Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Support) if you’re on a low income or receive Universal Credit. You’ll get a discount on your bill.

People claiming Universal Credit need to apply separately for Council Tax Reduction.

Eligibility

You can apply if:

• you own your home
• you rent
• you are unemployed or working

Council Tax Reduction is a means tested benefit.

To assess if you are eligible to claim, we will look at:

• you and your partner’s income
• you and your partner’s savings and investments
• the personal circumstances of other adults living in your household

The government decides an amount that they believe is the minimum that you and your family need to live on each week. This is called your applicable amount. We use this criteria to assess your claim.

How much will I get

Working age people

• your Council Tax reduction will be up to a maximum of 85% of your Council Tax bill until 31 March 2024. From 1 April 2024, it will be up to a maximum of 90% of your bill. These are before we make any deductions due to income or savings
• your eligible Council Tax will be reduced if you (and your partner) have other adults living with you (non-dependent deductions). This is because they are expected to help pay the costs

Pensioners

Pensioners are protected and continue to receive the same level of support that they did under the old Council Tax benefit system.

This means that if your income is less than an amount the government says you need to live on, you will be entitled to maximum Council Tax reduction.

Calculate your Council Tax reduction and make a claim

The calculator will only give you an estimate of your potential financial benefit. An accurate decision can only be made after we have received your claim and supporting documentation.

You will need to continue making your regular Council Tax payments until your claim is decided.

New calculation/claim Return to a saved calculation/claim

We appreciate that you may be in a difficult financial circumstance as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and that you may be unfamiliar with making this kind of claim. If you would like support applying online, please call us on 020 8356 3399.