Local Council Tax Support

If you are on a low income or receive other benefits, your Council Tax bill could be reduced through a scheme called Local Council Tax Support (LCTS).

You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

How much will be taken off your bill  

Your eligibility and how much your bill is reduced by depends on:

• your circumstances (eg income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
• your household income - this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income
• if your children live with you
• if other adults live with you

How it works

If you are entitled to Local Council Tax Support these key features will apply:

• All working age applicants pay a minimum of 15% of their Council Tax bill.
• The first £25 per week that people earn is not taken into account when calculating LCTS.
• Back to Work Support provides help to long-term unemployed residents who secure employment by giving them four weeks of Extended Reduction to their Council Tax.
• The maximum period a claim (for working age claimants) for LCTS can be back dated is one month.
• There is a flat rate non-dependant deduction of £12 regardless of income or savings.
• Child Benefit is included as income, whereas Child Maintenance is disregarded, when calculating entitlement.
• There is a £2.00 per week minimum level of entitlement.
• If you reside in a property that is in Council Tax band D, or above, you will still receive support but to a maximum of band D

Before you start

To complete the application form you will need:

• your national insurance number
• your household’s income, capital and rent
• a full breakdown of your most recent payment - if you are in receipt of Universal Credit. 

Apply for Local Council Tax Support

What happens after you have applied  

Once we have received your application we may ask you for some more information.

Any documentation we request should be provided within a month of the date you applied. We can only process your application once we have received all the necessary documentation.

The best way of providing your documentation is to upload it yourself.

Once we have finished processing your application we will send you an award letter confirming your entitlement to Local Council Tax Support.