Help with your Council Tax

Council Tax is one of the bigger regular bills, and a lot of older people are paying more than they need to, simply because the discounts are not well known and you usually have to ask for them. Depending on your circumstances, you might get anything from a quarter off your bill to having the whole thing paid. Here is what is available and how to claim it.

Council Tax Reduction, if you are on a lower income

If your income is on the lower side, you can apply to your council for Council Tax Reduction, sometimes called Council Tax Support. For people over State Pension age the rules are set nationally, and they are more generous than for younger people.

If you get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, you can have up to 100% of your bill paid, which means you may pay nothing at all. Even if you are not on Pension Credit, you may still get some help if your income is modest. You apply through your local council, and it is not automatic, so you do need to claim. One thing to note: savings over £16,000 normally rule you out, but that limit does not apply if you receive Guarantee Credit.

It is worth checking Pension Credit first

Pension Credit comes up here again because the Guarantee Credit part of it unlocks full Council Tax Reduction. Even a small Pension Credit award is worth having, because it can wipe out a Council Tax bill of a thousand pounds or more. So it is well worth a free benefits check, and we have a separate guide on Pension Credit. Do remember to apply to the council separately, though, as being awarded Pension Credit does not sort out your Council Tax on its own.

The 25% single person discount

If you live on your own, you should get 25% off your Council Tax. This one is not means-tested, so it does not matter what your income or savings are. It simply applies because you are the only adult in the home.

A lot of people who live alone, particularly after a partner has died or moved into a care home, do not realise they need to tell the council. So do check your bill, and if the discount is missing, ask for it and ask for it to be backdated. This is separate from Council Tax Reduction, and you can have both at once.

If you or someone you live with has dementia or a similar condition

This is one of the most valuable discounts of all, and one of the most overlooked. If you, or someone you live with, has a condition such as dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or the effects of a severe stroke, they may be "disregarded" for Council Tax.

To qualify, a doctor needs to certify them as severely mentally impaired, and they need to be receiving a qualifying benefit such as Attendance Allowance. If that person lives alone, the bill can be reduced to nothing. If they live with one other adult, that adult gets the 25% single person discount.

Importantly, this can be backdated to when the condition began, sometimes by years, so a refund may well be due. If this might apply in your family, it is really worth asking the council about. It is also a good reason to make sure Attendance Allowance is being claimed, which we have a separate guide on.

If you care for someone

If you provide unpaid care for at least 35 hours a week for someone you live with, who is not your husband, wife or partner, and who receives certain benefits, you may be disregarded for Council Tax, which can mean a discount for the household. You do not need to be claiming Carer's Allowance to qualify.

If your home has been adapted for a disability

If your home has been adapted to meet the needs of someone disabled, for example an extra bathroom or toilet, a room used mainly by them, or space to use a wheelchair indoors, you may qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction. This brings your bill down to the band below, and there is still a reduction even if you are already in the lowest band.

If someone has moved into a care home

When someone moves permanently into a care home, they are no longer counted for Council Tax, so a partner who stays at home becomes the only adult and should get the 25% discount. A home left empty because the person has moved into care, or has died, may also be exempt for a time. Either way, let the council know so they can adjust the bill.

If you are struggling to pay

Council Tax debt is taken seriously and can escalate quickly, so please do not ignore a reminder. The good news is that there is help, and acting early gives you the most options. You can ask the council to spread your payments over twelve months instead of the usual ten, which lowers each instalment. And if you have fallen behind, talk to them sooner rather than later. Citizens Advice can help you set up a manageable arrangement and make sure you are getting every discount you are entitled to.

Think your band is wrong?

You can ask the Valuation Office Agency to review your Council Tax band if you think it is too high. Do be aware, though, that a review could move your band up as well as down, so it is worth getting advice before you ask.

Where to get help, locally and nationally

Close to home, across Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire:

• Your local council, to apply for Council Tax Reduction and the discounts above: Chesterfield Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, or North East Derbyshire District Council.
• Citizens Advice, for help applying, or with arrears. For Bolsover and North East Derbyshire, call 0808 250 5702 (9am to 2pm, Monday to Friday). For the Chesterfield Borough area, find your local office at citizensadvice.org.uk.
• Derbyshire County Council's adult care service, for a free benefits check.

Across the country:

• The Pension Service, on 0800 99 1234, for Pension Credit.
• Citizens Advice, on the freephone Adviceline 0800 144 8848.
• Independent Age, on 0800 319 6789, for free advice and factsheets.
• GOV.UK, for Council Tax information and to find your council.