Council Tax Reduction can help pay towards some or all of your Council Tax bill if you are on a low income, even if you own your own home and whether or not you work.
The maximum amount of Council Tax Reduction which can be awarded is 90% of your Council Tax bill. This means that everyone of working age now have to pay towards their Council Tax.
However, if you have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit, the maximum amount of Council Tax Reduction which can be awarded is based on 100% of your Council Tax bill. The actual amount received is based on your personal circumstances. Contact the Pension Service (opens in a new window) for further details regarding the qualifying age for Pension Credit.
Making a claim
If you make a claim for Universal Credit and you indicate that you want to claim Council Tax Reduction, this will be treated as an application for Council Tax Reduction (as long as you qualify for an award of Universal Credit). You do not need to complete a separate form.
If this does not apply to you, to claim Council Tax Reduction you will need to complete a Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction scheme claim form.