Every household in the UK must pay Council Tax, however you may be able to apply for Council Tax Support, which is a means-tested reduction to the bill.

The means test compares how much money you have coming into the household against an ‘applicable amount’ which reflects the basic living needs of a household. This varies depending on the age of who lives in the property and individual circumstances.

Councils can decide their own scheme. This means the Council Tax Support scheme could be different depending on where you live.

If you’ve reached State Pension Credit age and do not qualify for Council Tax Support because your income or savings are too high, you might still get some help if others living in your household are on low incomes.

For people of State Pension Credit qualifying age and vulnerable groups, the scheme mirrors the Council Tax Benefit rules. Find out more about Pension Credit.

Alternatively, you may be able to claim Second Adult Rebate. You cannot receive both Council Tax Support and Second Adult Rebate at the same time. If you qualify for both, you’ll receive the one that pays the most.

Other ways your Council Tax bill could be reduced

As well as Council Tax Support and Second Adult Rebate, we may be able to reduce your Council Tax bill further if you’re eligible for any discounts or exemptions.

You can use the online benefit calculator to see what you may be entitled to, the calculator will be an estimate based on the information you give and is not guaranteed.