How it works
If you are on a low income or unemployed, you could qualify for council tax reduction.
Council tax reduction is based on your household income, savings and any assets you own.
Receiving council tax reduction and universal credit
If you are awarded universal credit the Department for Work and Pensions will assess your finances and ask if they can share your information with the council.
If we award you Council Tax Reduction, the Department for Work and Pensions will tell us about any benefits and entitlements you receive from them. We may use the information to change the amount of council tax reduction you receive each month.
Even if you have already agreed for the Department of Work and Pensions to share your information with us, you still need to apply with us for council tax reduction.
Who it is for (eligibility)
You are eligible for council tax reduction if:
- you pay council tax at the property you live in
- you are unemployed or on a low income
- you, your partner, or both of you together have savings or investments below £16,000
Apply
Before you start
You do not need your council tax account number to make an application, however this may speed up your application if you provide it.
You must continue to pay your current Council Tax bill while the outcome of your application is decided.
After you apply
After you have applied, we will contact you and complete an assessment of your finances. We will ask you for evidence of your household income, savings and any assets you own.
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 a request for your entitlement to be backdated and provide appropriate evidence to support your request.
Evidence could includes:
- Medical evidence - for example doctor's notes, death certificates, hospital admission or discharge letters
- Witness statements - for example letters from social workers, solicitors or police
- Letters or emails from an official source informing you that you were not eligible for support - for example Citizens Advice Bureau, a social worker or the Department of Work and Pensions
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 reduction.
Report a change of circumstances
Contact us
Email: revenues@rctcbc.gov.uk
Tel: 01443 425002