Local authority
Council Tax Reduction
Council Tax Reduction lowers your council tax bill if you are on a low income or get certain benefits. Each council runs its own scheme, so you apply to your local council and the rules depend on where you live.
Help with council tax
Discounts and reductions, and what to do if you have fallen behind.
What to check first
- Council Tax Reduction is run by your own council and every council sets its own scheme, so the rules where you live may differ from a friend's.
- Discounts are separate from reductions: living alone, being a student, or a severe mental impairment can each reduce the bill regardless of income.
- Check your property's band. Bands were set decades ago and some are wrong; a successful challenge can be backdated.
- Council tax debt escalates faster than most debts. If you cannot pay, contact the council before the reminder becomes a court summons.
What you may be able to claim
Each of these has its own rules. Open a page to see what it is, who runs it, and where the official guidance lives.
Where to get help in person
We are an information site. If a decision has gone against you, or you are not sure what applies to your situation, free independent advice is available and it is worth using.
- Citizens Advice can look at your actual circumstances and help with forms and appeals.
- Your council's welfare or housing team runs local schemes that are not advertised nationally.
- Many charities run advice lines for specific conditions and situations.
None of them charge, and none of them will ask you to pay to make a claim.