Council Tax Support from April 2024
Council Tax Support provides low-income households, both in and out of work, with help to pay their Council Tax. Any owner-occupier or tenant aged 18 or over who is legally responsible for the Council Tax can make a claim for Council Tax Support.
The level of Council Tax Support is based on the income and circumstances of the household.
Pension Age applicants
The Government has set the rules we must use to calculate Council Tax Support for applicants who have reached state pension age. The maximum support available is 100% of the Council Tax charge for the property after any other discounts or exemptions have been applied.
Council Tax Support entitlement for couples where one member of a couple has reached state pension age and the other is receiving a working age means tested benefit or Universal Credit will be calculated under the rules that apply to working age applicants.
Working Age applicants
Plymouth City Council has an Income Banded Council Tax Support scheme for working age people.
The maximum support available in 2024-25 remains at 80% of the Council Tax charge for the property up to a Band E. This means you will need to pay at least 20% of your council tax bill 2024-25.
The savings/capital limit remains at £6,000.
If you have a total of £6,000 or more in any bank/building society/post office/premium bonds/ISAs/trust funds/shares or cash, you will not be eligible to claim Council Tax Support.
A minimum income floor calculation applies for self-employed claimants and/or any self-employed partner who are not considered to be in the first year of trading. This means the income we use to calculate any entitlement to Council Tax Support might be different to your accounting figures.
When calculating household income we do not include:
- Child Benefit
- Personal Independence Payments
- Disability Living Allowance
- Carers Allowance
- Work Related Activity or Support component of Employment and Support Allowance
- Child maintenance
- War disablement/widows pensions
- Bereavement Support Payments
- Up to 100% of any Housing Cost element of Universal Credit
- If you are in paid work we will disregard an amount from your earnings and make an allowance for eligible child care costs
- If you, a partner, or a child in your household are receiving a disability related benefit an amount dependent on the benefit being received
If you have a non-dependant adult living in the property we may deduct £4.60 each week from your maximum Council Tax Support.
The amount of support that an applicant will be entitled to is based on the household group that applies and the calculated household income.
£0 to £99.32 weekly income: Band 1 - 80% reduction
£99.33 to £162.30 weekly income: Band 2 - 60% reduction
£162.31 to £224.08 weekly income: Band 3 - 40% reduction
£224.09 to £322.18 weekly income: Band 4 - 20% reduction
Over £322.19 weekly income: Band 5 - 0% reduction
£0 to £148.97 weekly income: Band 1 - 80% reduction
£148.98 to £210.74 weekly income: Band 2 - 60% reduction
£210.75 to £273.84 weekly income: Band 3 - 40% reduction
£273.85 to £373.05 weekly income: Band 4 - 20% reduction
Over £373.06 weekly income: Band 5 - 0% reduction
£0 to £311.28 weekly income: Band 1 - 80% reduction
£311.29 to £373.05 weekly income: Band 2 - 60% reduction
£373.06 to £496.59 weekly income: Band 3 - 40% reduction
£496.60 to £681.90 weekly income: Band 4 - 20% reduction
Over £681.91 weekly income: Band 5 - 0% reduction
£0 to £248.30 weekly income: Band 1 - 80% reduction
£248.31 to £311.28 weekly income: Band 2 - 60% reduction
£311.29 to £433.61 weekly income: Band 3 - 40% reduction
£433.62 to £558.36 weekly income: Band 4 - 20% reduction
Over £558.37 weekly income: Band 5 - 0% reduction
£0 to £311.28 weekly income: Band 1 - 80% reduction
£311.29 to £373.05 weekly income: Band 2 - 60% reduction
£373.06 to £496.59 weekly income: Band 3 - 40% reduction
£496.60 to £681.90 weekly income: Band 4 - 20% reduction
Over £681.91 weekly income: Band 5 - 0% reduction
£0 to £618.91 weekly income: Band 1 - 80% reduction
Over £618.92 weekly income: Band 5 - 0% reduction
Band 1 - 80%
- Changes in the household income may not result in a change to the amount of Council Tax Support discount awarded if the new income is still within the same income band.
- Changes in the household composition, even if there is no change to household income, may result in a change to the amount of Council Tax Support discount awarded if the change moves the household into a different group.
- Backdated awards of Council Tax Support will continue to be limited to 6 months and this will be at the discretion of the Council.
Second Adult Rebate
Second Adult Rebate is Council Tax Support for people who:
- are responsible for paying Council Tax
- have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit
- share their home with one or more adults (non-dependants) who:
- are 18 or over and not paying you rent
- are not your partner
- are not responsible for paying the Council Tax
- are on a low income
You cannot apply for Second Adult Rebate if you or your partner receive:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
If you are not sure whether to claim Second Adult Rebate, make a claim for full Council Tax Support and we will check your entitlement.