Council Tax Support
Council Tax Support is help towards payment of your Council Tax.
Anyone who has to pay Council Tax who is on a low income can claim Council Tax Support regardless of whether they are retired, unemployed, or in full or part-time work. However there is a capital limit of £16,000, which applies in most cases, unless you are in receipt of Guarantee Pension Credit.
Due to the Government reduction in the grant it pays to Councils to fund assistance with Council Tax Support, Erewash Borough Council implemented a 8.5% cut from Council Tax Support entitlement for all working age claimants.
If you are not eligible to claim Council Tax Support because you are not on a low income yourself but have another adult in the property who is on a low income you may be able to claim Second Adult Rebate, which is a reduction based on their circumstances.
See if you qualify by using the Benefits Calculator
How do I make a claim?
Please read the form carefully before completing. Every question on the form must be answered, and you must provide all the evidence necessary. If you fail to do so, you will be asked to provide further information and this will lead to a delay in your claim being processed.
What date will my entitlement start?
If you are in receipt of Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Universal Credit or Guarantee Pension Credit, and have made a claim with us within one calendar month of the start of your benefit, any Council Tax Support will be paid from the Monday following the start of your Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Universal Credit or Guarantee Pension Credit claim. All other claims start from the Monday following the date your claim is received by this office.
If you wish your claim to be backdated, you must give the date you wish it to begin and reasons for your delay in claiming. You have to demonstrate 'good cause' for not making a claim at an earlier date. Good cause must be demonstrated for the whole of the period you are requesting the backdate. Backdating limit is 6 months for those aged under Pension Credit age.
A claim can only be backdated for up to three months for Pension Credit age customers (this is automatically granted however proof of income / capital for this period must be supplied), providing you meet the conditions of entitlement throughout the period. There is no need to demonstrate 'good cause' in these cases.
gov.uk covers a wide variety of Benefits and Financial Support.
Please bear in mind that you have to be resident in the property to receive Council Tax Support, however in certain circumstances discounts, exceptions and benefit can be awarded whilst you are absent away from home.
How will my benefit be calculated?
Any entitlement to Council Tax Support will be based on the eligible Council Tax. If you are in receipt of Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) or Guarantee Pension Credit, you would have previously been eligible for 100% Council Tax Benefit. However from 01st April 2013 the Government has abolished Council Tax Benefit (See above). As a result Erewash Borough Council have implemented an 8.5% cut on the Council Tax Support that is awarded minus any Non-Dependant deductions. All other claims are ' means tested' which takes into account all income and capital these claims will also be subject to an 8.5% reduction on any Council Tax Support that is awarded.
If you wish to see if you would qualify for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support amongst you can enquire about your potential entitlement by using the GOV.UK website by using the link above.
Income
All income is assessed on a weekly basis. If you or your partner have "earned income" (that is, wages, salary or profits from a business), deductions are made for Tax, National Insurance and half of any pension contributions made.
Certain categories of income are "disregarded" in whole or in part for example Disability Living Allowance, Family Maintenance and after 2nd November 2009 Child Benefit. These disregards have the effect of increasing your entitlement to benefit by reducing the "Assessed Income" on which your benefit is calculated.
Capital
If you or your partner are under 60 and have capital of between £6,000 and £16,000, the Government Regulations require that we assume a notional income of £1 per week for every £250 (or part £250) in value. This will be shown as "Capital Income" on any Benefit Notification.
If you or your partner are 60 or over and have capital of between £10,000 and £16,000, the Government Regulations require that we assume a notional income of £1 per week for every £500 (or part £500) in value. This will be shown as "Capital Income" on any Benefit Notification.
Applicable amounts
Applicable amounts are the assumed living costs of individual households for the purposes of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. These amounts are specified in Government Regulations. For further details of how your applicable amount is calculated please visit the Department for Work and Pensions website.
They consist of personal allowances related to age and marital status, and various premiums for special circumstances such as disability, pensionable age, or a family.
Calculation of your Council Tax Support
The maximum entitlement to Council Tax Support is 100% of your Council Tax charge after any relief, exemptions and discounts. Deductions are then made in respect all income and capital, you will also be subject to an 8.5% reduction on any Council Tax Support that is awarded.
All persons over 18 years of age living with you as part of your family are assumed to make a contribution to your housing costs, and therefore a deduction, known as a Non-Dependant Deduction, is made from the maximum entitlement to Council Tax Benefit in respect of each of those persons.
The Non-dependant's income is used to determine the level of deduction made from your benefit. Failure to provide details will result in the highest level of deduction. The lowest level of deduction is made in respect of non-dependants on State benefits.
| For each non-dependent: Level of gross weekly income | Weekly deduction from Council Tax Support |
|---|---|
|
Gross Income £256.00 or less |
£4.90 |
|
Gross Income £256.00 - £444.99 |
£10.05 |
|
Gross Income £445.00 - £553.99 |
£12.60 |
|
Gross Income more than £554.00 |
£15.10 |
|
Not working or working less than 16 hours per week |
£4.90 |
|
In receipt of Pension Credit or on Universal Credit and NOT working On Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Income Related Employment Support Allowance |
nil |
No deductions are made in respect of non-dependants if you or your partner are registered blind, in receipt of Attendance Allowance or the Care Component of Disability Living Allowance or the daily living component of Personal Independence payment
How is Council Tax Support paid?
Any entitlement to Council Tax Support will be credited to your Council Tax account and you will be advised accordingly of the amount left to pay, where applicable.
What is Second Adult Rebate?
Second Adult Rebate is designed to help Council Tax payers who have another adult or adults living with them, who cannot be expected to make a contribution to the Council Tax charge because their income is low.
Under the normal benefit scheme, a Council Tax payer in this situation might be worse off because they would be assessed as a single claimant but would have deductions made from benefit in respect of each non-dependant adult.
Normally, anybody who claims Council Tax Support will automatically be assessed for Second Adult Rebate if they are eligible, and will be granted the higher amount.
| Level of rebate | Conditions |
|---|---|
|
25% |
If the second adult is a Student |
|
25% |
If the second adult is on Income Support, Job-Seekers Allowance (Income Based), Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance (Income Related) or Universal Credit (and NOT working) |
|
15% |
If the second adult's gross weekly income is less than £265.00 |
|
7.5% |
If the second adult's gross weekly income is between £265.00 and £344.00 (Income about this amount and you would not qualify for Second Adult Rebate). |