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CONTACT

Council Tax Service
Benefits Service

General enquiries: 03450 450 500

Pay my bill online

Popular FAQs

• How do I claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit?
• What happens if I cannot pay my council tax?
• I live on my own, can I get a council tax discount?
• How is my benefit worked out?
• What is my council tax band and how is this decided?

Other FAQs

Discounts

The full council tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in your property.

• Council tax is composed of a 50% property element and 50% personal element (25% for each of 2 adults).
• If there are more than 2 adults in a property the charge does not change.
• If there is only one adult resident the charge can be reduced by 25% on application. [Download the Council Tax - Single Person Discount application form].
• If all of the adult residents in a property are disregarded the bill can be reduced by 50%.
• An adult is someone aged 18 years or over.

Reasons for disregarding an adult for council tax purposes:

• Full time students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training trainees. [Download the Council Tax - Student Discount application form].
• 18 and 19 year olds who are at or who have just left school and for whom Child Benefit is still payable
• Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions.
• People caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18
• People who are being looked after in nursing and residential care homes
• Patients permanently resident in hospital
• People who are severely mentally impaired
• Careworkers working for low pay, usually for charities
• People staying in certain hostels or night shelters
• Members of religious communities (monks or nuns)
• People in prison (except those in prison for non - payment of council tax or a fine)
• People who are diplomats.

Empty and Unfurnished Properties:

• If a property is not occupied or furnished the charge is reduced by 50%.
• When a property first becomes unoccupied and unfurnished there is an initial 6 month period when no charge is due.
• If ownership of the property changes before the property is reoccupied but after the 6 month period has ended there is no further 6 month period due.
• The void period attaches to the property and not to the ownership of the property.

You can get a 10% discount if your property is furnished but is not anyone's sole or main residence.

Job related Discount:

You can get a 50% discount if you have to live in a different property because it is a condition of your job. This applies where your main residence has changed and we will take various factors into account in order to determine main residence in each individual case.

If you think you may be entitled to a discount, you should contact the council tax service. If your bill indicates that a discount has been allowed, you must tell us of any change in your circumstances which could affect your entitlement, e.g. a second resident becomes 18. If you fail to inform us you may be required to pay a penalty.