Council tax benefit

Council tax benefit can cover or pay towards your council tax. It cannot help with water charges or, if you live in Scotland, the community water charge. Council tax benefit is paid directly to your council tax account.

Who can get council tax benefit?
Anyone living in the UK who has a low income, and who pays council tax can claim council tax benefit. You can’t claim council tax benefit if you have capital over £16,000 unless you are 60 or over and receive the guarantee element of pension credit. Special rules apply for full time students and people from abroad. If you do not qualify for council tax benefit you may be able to claim second adult rebate.

What is second adult rebate?
Second adult rebate is help towards your council tax benefit if you are a single person or a couple where one is disregarded from the council tax charge, but there are other adults in your home who have a low income. Second adult rebate is based on the income of the ‘second adult’ and not of the claimant. If you wish to find out more about second adult rebate, please contact us using the details provided.

How much council tax benefit will I get?
The amount of council tax benefit paid depends on

• you or your partner's income
• you or your partner's savings
• the number of children living with you
• other people in your household
• if you or your family have any special circumstances, because of illness or disability

(By partner we mean:
-a person you are married to or live with as if you are married to them, or
-a civil partner or a person you live with as if you are civil partners)

How do I claim council tax benefit or second adult rebate?
Both benefits can be claimed using the same form. This is also the form for housing benefit and education benefits. You only need to complete one form to apply for them all. You can download and print a form using the link on the right of this page, or pick one up from any of our one stop centres. If you would like one sent to you, please contact us using the details on the top right of this page. Send your completed form to the address at the top right of this page.

You can also hand the form into any of our one stop centres. If you rent from the Council, you can drop your form into your local housing office.

When will my claim start?
By law, your claim for council tax benefit allows a claim to be "treated as made" on the day that you register your intent to claim. In most instances we will start your claim from the Monday after that date providing that you return a completed application form to us within one month of that date.

Intent to claim can be registered by means such as a telephone call, an email or in writing. However it must be made by the person wishing to claim and must be registered with a designated office ie Leeds Benefits Service, a One Stop Centre, an ALMO, or a DWP/Pension Service office.

What can I do if I disagree with your decision?
If you think our decision about your benefit is wrong, you can ask us to think about it again or explain it to you. You need to ask us to do this within one calendar month. If we do not change our decision you can appeal. You can get an appeals form with guidance notes by using the link on the right hand side of this page.

Some useful definitions

Contacts