State pensioners may get their council tax bill paid in full – how to claim

Those who have reached state pension age – currently 66 – can get council tax support to cover 100 percent of their bill.

How much council tax support someone gets depends on things like their income, who else lives with them and how much they have in savings.

People may get more council tax support if they receive a disability or carer’s benefit.

If they receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit they may even get their Council Tax paid in full.

If people don’t get Guarantee Credit but they have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings, they may still get some help.

The amount of discount someone can get depends on their council. Each council has their own rules so people should check what the rules are in their area.

Wherever someone lives, the amount of council tax support they get depends on many factors, including:

· their age

· their income, including any benefits you receive

· their savings

· who they live with

· how much Council Tax they pay.

If they’re not over state pension age, the council tax support they’re entitled to is worked out under ‘working age scheme’ rules.

People can check these rules with their local council.

How to claim council tax support?

As local councils run their own council tax support schemes, how people make a claim might differ depending on where they live.

But wherever they live, the first thing they’ll need to do when making a claim is to contact their local council.

Council tax discount available

As well as council tax Support, there are other exemptions and discounts that might apply. Britons might be able to get money off their council tax bill if:

• they live alone
• they’re a carer
• they or someone they live with has a severe mental impairment, such as dementia or a learning difficulty
• there are adaptations in their home that make it suitable for someone with a disability who lives there
• they have another person living with them who isn’t their partner and is on a low income
• their property is empty – for example, they’ve gone into hospital or moved into a care home
• where they’re living isn’t their main residence
• there’s an issue, such as a flood, which may be covered by a discretionary discount offered by some councils.

Some people are not counted (‘disregarded’) when working out how many people live in a property.

One qualifying adult in a household means that a single-person discount applies, equivalent to 25 percent off the council tax bill.

No qualifying adults in a household result in either a discount of 50 percent or a 100 percent exemption, depending on exactly who lives in the property.

For a full list of people who count as ‘disregarded’, Britons can visit the Government website.