If you are on a low income you could qualify for council tax reduction to help you pay for part or all of your council tax.
On this page
- How it works
- Who it is for (eligibility)
- Apply
- Backdating your claim
- Help applying
- Report a change of circumstances
- Contact us
How it works
If you are on low income, own your own home, rent, are unemployed or working, and meet the eligibility criteria detailed below, you could qualify for council tax reduction.
Who is it for (eligibility)
You may be eligible for council tax reduction if you are responsible for paying the council tax for the property you live in and:
- are unemployed or on a low income
- either you, or your partner, or both of you together have savings or investments that fall below £16,000
Apply
Before you start
You'll need your council tax account number to make an application and ..*********** (get details from Kurt and Matthew of what else is needed )
You must continue to pay your current Council Tax bill while the outcome of your application is decided.
Apply for Council Tax Reduction
Help applying
If you need help applying and would benefit from face to face support, you can Book a One4all appointment. You can meet with a member of the team at an RCT library who will support you in completing and submitting the application.
Book an appointment
Backdating your claim
If you feel your council tax reduction should have started from an earlier date, you will need to email us requesting your entitlement be backdated and provide appropriate evidence to support your request.
Evidence accepted includes:
- Doctor's notes, medical certificates, or hospital admission/discharge letters.
- Witness statements, letters from social workers, or evidence of a relationship breakdown or domestic violence.
- Letters or emails from an official source informing you that you were not eligible for support.
We can only backdate Council Tax Reduction for a maximum of 6 months.
We will write to you with the decision made based on the evidence you have provided.
If your claim has not been successful we will explain the reasons and outline further advice. You have the right to appeal against our decision. The appeals process will be detailed in the letter you receive.
Report a change of circumstances
You must inform us immediately if your circumstances change as it could affect your entitlement to a discount.
Report a change of circumstances
Contact us
Email: HousingBenefitEnquiries@rctcbc.gov.uk