Council Tax Benefit is a benefit to help you pay your council tax. Depending on your income and household circumstances, you can get a reduction of up to 100% on your council tax bill.
Making a Claim
How do I claim?
You must complete a Council Tax Benefit Application form. We also have a combined Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit application form. Therefore, if you qualify for both benefits you will only be required to complete one form.
- Council Tax Benefit Application Form - to be added
- Housing and Council Tax Benefit Application Form - to be added
It is important that you read the claim form carefully and complete all sections. If you do not complete the form correctly it may have to be returned to you or we may have to write to you for more information. This may delay the processing of your claim.
What information and evidence will I be required to provide with my claim?
The claim form details the information and any evidence that you will be required to supply to enable your claim to be processed. It is important that you do not delay in sending in your form even if you are unable to send the evidence along with it.
If you are unable to provide documentary evidence at the time of returning your form please state that the evidence will follow. You will have four weeks from the date of submitting your claim form to provide the evidence.
Your Benefit
How long will it take to work out my benefit?
We will try to work out your benefit within two weeks of receiving your claim. This may not always be possible, especially if we have asked for more information or evidence from you. In these cases we will deal with your claim form as quickly as possible once we have received all the information that is needed.
How will my benefit be calculated?
When your benefit is calculated we include the following:
- Your income, how much money you have coming in, which includes such things as earnings, pensions, benefits and any maintenance payments you receive
- Your savings and investments, which include such things as cash, money in a bank or building society, stocks, shares and second properties. If you and your partner (either together or separately) have savings or investments of more than £16,000, you will not be entitled to Council Tax Benefit unless you qualify for the Guarantee Credit part of Pensions Credits.
- Your personal circumstances, eg your age, how many children you may have, if you are disabled or whether you have other people living with you who do not depend on your support
- The amount of council tax you are liable to pay. If you live in a property in council tax band F, G or H, Council Tax Benefit may be assessed on that of a band E property
Applicable Amount
This is the amount of money that the government states that someone in your circumstances needs to live on. It is made up of a variety of allowances and premiums that are intended to reflect your needs.
If your income is less than or equal to your applicable amount or you are in receipt of Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (income-based) or the Guarantee Credit part of Pensions Credits, then you will be entitled to 100% benefit less any appropriate non-dependent deductions.
If you income is greater than your applicable amount, then you will be entitled to 100% benefit less an adjustment.
For Council Tax Benefit purposes the adjustment is 20% of the difference between your income and the applicable amount. A non-dependent deduction will then be applied if appropriate.
Council Tax Benefit cannot provide help with water and sewerage charges
Start of Benefit
When will my Council Tax Benefit start?
Your benefit will normally start on the Monday after we receive your claim.
However, if you receive Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based), or the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credits, benefit will start on the Monday after your Income Support / Jobseeker's Allowance / Guarantee Credit starts provided we receive your benefit application within four weeks of your date of entitlement to these benefits.
Can my claim be backdated?
Your claim will only be considered for backdating if you can show that there was "good cause" for not claiming earlier.
You must also be able to prove that "good cause" existed throughout the period for which you are requesting backdating.
Your Council Tax Benefit may only be backdated for a maximum of 52 weeks from the date of your initial claim for backdated benefit.
Outcome of Claim
How will I be notified of the outcome of my claim for Council Tax Benefit?
When your claim has been processed you will receive a benefit decision letter.
This letter will tell you if you qualify and if so, how much benefit you are entitled to receive and for what period.
If you are not entitled to benefit the letter will state the reason why you have failed to qualify.
What if I am not happy with my benefit?
If you are not happy with the way your Council Tax benefit has been worked out you can ask us to look at your claim again.
If you want us to do this, you should write to us within one month of the date of the decision letter.
What if I have been awarded Council Tax Benefit but I am still having difficulties in meeting the payments on my council tax bill?
If you are suffering from financial hardship and at least one other difficulty that would contribute to your inability to meet your council tax costs then you may be eligible to claim for Discretionary Housing Payments.
If you are experiencing difficulty in paying your council tax bill you should contact the Council Tax Team for advice and assistance.
