(Updated 22/06/2022)
Am I eligible for CTR?
You might be able to pay less council tax or not pay it at all depending on your circumstances.
You might be able to get:
- discounts - for example, for a single person or an empty property
- Council Tax Reduction (CTR) if you have low income
- a different reduction if you can’t get much CTR
You’ll have to apply to your local council to get Council Tax Reduction (CTR) or Second Adult Rebate.
Before you apply you need to check if you’re eligible for CTR or the Second Adult Rebate.
There are 2 sets of CTR rules. You should check which rules apply - it affects things like how much CTR you can get and when you can make the application.
Check which CTR rules apply
Which rules apply usually depends on whether you’ve reached State Pension age.
You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK.
If you’re under State Pension age, the ‘working age CTR rules’ apply.
If you’ve reached State Pension age, the ‘pension age CTR rules’ usually apply.
Even if you’ve reached State Pension age, the working age CTR rules will apply if you or your partner get:
- Universal Credit
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
The pension age CTR rules are usually more generous than the working age CTR rules. If you have a partner and one of you is under State Pension age, it’s usually best for the person who’s reached State Pension age to apply.
When should I apply for CTR?
If you’re eligible for CTR, it’s best to apply as soon as you can.
You can apply early if you know when you’re going to be eligible. If you apply early, you won’t have to wait as long to get CTR when you become eligible.
You can apply for CTR up to 8 weeks before you’re first responsible for paying council tax on your home - for example if you haven’t moved in yet.
If you’re already responsible for paying council tax, you can apply for CTR up to 13 weeks before you become eligible for CTR - for example if you’ve recently found out you’ll be made redundant. You can make the application up to 17 weeks early if the pension age CTR rules apply to you - or if they will apply to you by the time you become eligible.
How do I apply for CTR?
You can fill in a form or apply online. Your local council might also let you apply by telephone. You can find your local council’s website on GOV.UK - it will tell you how to apply.
If you live with a partner, only one of you needs to apply.
