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Who is eligible?

Council Tax Benefit

You may get Council Tax Benefit if you pay Council Tax and your income and capital (savings and investments) are £16,000 or below.

Second Adult Rebate

You may get Second Adult Rebate if the person you share your home with is:

You may be able to get Second Adult Rebate even if you don't receive Council Tax Benefit.

If you're either:

Your local authority should automatically check if you're entitled to a Second Adult Rebate.

Who isn't eligible?

If you have savings of over £16,000 you can't normally get Council Tax Benefit, unless you're aged 60 or over and getting the 'guarantee credit' of Pension Credit.

Your income and savings won't affect Second Adult Rebate. Second Adult Rebate is based on the other person's circumstances.

Most asylum seekers and people sponsored to be in the UK won't get Council Tax Benefit.

How to check eligibility

If you think you may be eligible for Council Tax benefit, the link below will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.

• Check your eligibility for Council Tax Benefit with your local council (opens new window)

How much do you get?

To work out your Council Tax Benefit, your local council will look at:

The most Council Tax Benefit you can get is 100 per cent reduction on your bill.

If you're entitled to Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or the 'guarantee credit' of Pension Credit you could get maximum help with your Council Tax.

• How Council Tax Benefit is worked out (opens new window)

Second Adult Rebate

If you're entitled to both Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate you'll get the one that gives you most money.

How it's paid

Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate reduce your Council Tax bill.

You'll get a new bill showing the reduced amount of Council Tax you have to pay.

Effect on other financial help

Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate won't affect other benefits you get.

How to claim

If you're already claiming other benefits

You'll get a form to claim Council Tax Benefit, (including Second Adult Rebate) and Housing Benefit if you're claiming any of the following benefits:

 You should complete and return the forms to your local council.

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker's Allowance

If you're not claiming other benefits

If you don't claim Pension Credit, Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance you can get a form for Council Tax Benefit, Second Adult Rebate and Housing Benefit from your local council.

• Visit the Council Tax pages of your council website (opens new window)
• Contact Jobcentre Plus (opens new window)

Download a claim form

Or you can download a claim form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.

• Download Housing Benefit claim form (PDF document 179 K) (opens new window)
• Help with PDF files

Claiming in advance

You can make a claim up to 13 weeks (17 weeks if you're aged 60 or over) before you become entitled to Council Tax Benefit.

So if you know you're moving to a new address soon, you can claim Council Tax Benefit before you move. You won't usually get any money before you move in.

Backdating a claim

You may be able to get your Council Tax Benefit claim backdated if there's a valid reason why you weren't able to claim earlier.

The following links will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.

• Find out about backdating of Council Tax Benefit claims (opens new window)
• Apply for backdating of Council Tax Benefit (opens new window)

What to do if your circumstances change

You must tell your local council if for example:

This isn't a full list. Follow the links below to your local authority website to find out more.

• Check which changes in circumstance affect Council Tax Benefit claims (opens new window)
• Report change of circumstances relating to Council Tax Benefit (opens new window)

How to appeal

If you're refused Council Tax Benefit or aren't happy with your council's decision you can ask them to reconsider.

Follow the links below to your local authority website to find out more.

If you're still unhappy with the outcome, you can appeal to an independent Unified Appeal Tribunal.

• Find out about appeals relating to Council Tax Benefit decisions (opens new window)
• Appeal against a Council Tax Benefit decision (opens new window)
• How to appeal against a benefits decision

Council Tax reduction for disabled people

You may be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax if you're disabled or have a disabled person living with you.

• Council Tax reduction for disabled people (disabled people section)

More useful links

• On a low income benefits information
• Extended Payment of Council Tax Benefit
• Problems paying your Council Tax bill
• Getting advice on insurance products
• Sorting out someone's tax affairs after they die (rights and responsibilities)
• How to catch up if you've got little or no pension