Council Tax Support Checker

CTR reduces the council tax you owe based on your income, savings, household and circumstances. It can cover anywhere from a small percentage up to 100% of the bill. You apply to your local council, not the DWP, and it's separate from other discounts like the 25% single-person discount.

There are effectively two regimes:

• Pension age: a national scheme with consistent rules, where the poorest pensioners can get up to 100% off.
• Working age: each council designs its own scheme. Many cap maximum support below 100% (often 80–90%), so even the poorest residents pay something.

Most schemes compare your income with an "applicable amount" — a figure representing your basic living needs. If you're on a passporting benefit like Guarantee Pension Credit, you usually get maximum support automatically. Otherwise, support reduces as your income rises above the applicable amount, typically by around 20p for each extra pound.

A household with a £1,800 annual bill, weekly income of £200 against an applicable amount of £160, in a council offering up to 100% support: the £40 excess income reduces the maximum weekly support of about £34.62 by 20% of £40 (£8), leaving roughly £26.62 a week — about £1,384 a year off the bill, so they'd pay around £416.

• Not applying. CTR is never automatic — you must claim it from your council even if you get other benefits.
• Assuming you can get 100%. Many working-age schemes cap support below 100%, so check your council's rules.
• Forgetting other discounts. CTR is separate from single-person, student and disability discounts, which can stack.
• Not reporting changes. Income, household or savings changes affect your award and must be reported.