How we calculate a Council Tax reduction

If you get:

• Income Support
• Job Seeker's Allowance (Income Based);
• Universal Credit;
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related); or
• Pension Guarantee Credit

you will get the full amount of your Council Tax after any non-dependant deductions to the calculation.

If you do not get:

• Income Support;
• Job Seeker's Allowance (Income Based);
• Universal Credit;
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related); or
• Pension Guarantee Credit.

we work out your reduction. We do this by comparing the money you get each week with your 'Applicable Amount'. Your Applicable Amount is what the Government says you and your family need to live on each week. The Applicable Amount will be higher for some people. This may be if you are a pensioner, disabled, or you are a one-parent family.

If your weekly income is less than, or the same as your Applicable Amount, you will get the full amount of your Council Tax. This is after we apply any non-dependant deductions to the calculation. If this happens, you should claim Income Support. You may get more help. If your weekly income is more than your Applicable Amount, the amount of Council Tax Reduction entitlement you receive will be equal to the weekly Council Tax. We call this income over your Applicable Amount 'Excess Income’. This will be less 20% of the weekly Excess Income figure, and less any non-dependant deductions.

How do you calculate my weekly income?

We count the money that you and your partner earn from work after removal of money for Tax, National Insurance and half of any money paid into a pension fund. To this figure we add any other income that you might have. For example:

• a pension from a former employer;
• tax credits; or
• other state benefits.

We disregarded some types of income:

• Disability Living Allowance;
• Personal Independence Payments;
• Attendance Allowance;
• Child Benefit.

It is still important that you tell us about them.

We may calculate a Tariff Income from any capital/savings that you or your partner have. We add this to the above figures. Please see the 'What counts as capital and how does it affect my entitlement?' section below. For the purposes of working out your entitlement, your weekly income is:

• the total of any earned income;
• unearned income;
• and Tariff Income.

as detailed above.

What counts as capital and how does it affect my entitlement?

For Council Tax Reduction Scheme purposes, we treat most savings, investments and assets owned by you and your partner as 'capital'. Examples of the most likely sources are:

• cash savings;
• current accounts. Even if you only use it to get things paid into it, like wages, or a pension, or you use it to pay bills;
• money in a bank, post office, or building society account;
• money in savings schemes;
• National Savings Certificates;
• Premium Bonds;
• stocks and shares, bonds and other investments;
• property or land.

The following do not count as capital:

• personal possessions;
• certain business assets, if you are still working in the business;
• surrender values of Life Policies;
• sale proceeds of your home. This can be for up to six months if you intend to buy another home;
• money from insurance claims in respect of loss or damage to home or personal possessions. This can be for up to six months if used to replace or repair;
• any Social Fund payment.

The above lists are not exhaustive. Please contact us if you are in doubt about any asset or interest you have.

How we calculate your Capital Tariff

Once we have worked out what your capital amounts to, the rules say that:

• if you and your partner have savings or capital of more than £16,000, you cannot get a Council Tax Reduction;
• if you and your partner have £6,000 or less, it will not affect your claim. If you are the qualifying age to claim State Pension Credit, this figure is £10,000;
• if you or your partner have
• reached the qualifying age to claim State Pension Credit
• have between £10,000 and £16,000, it affects the amount of your entitlement
• For every £500 (or part of £500) you have over £10,000, we add £1.00 to the money we count each week. We do this when working out your entitlement;
• if you and your partner have not reached the qualifying age to claim Pension Credit and have
• between £6,000 and £16,000, it affects your entitlement to a Council Tax Reduction.
• For every £250 (or part of £250) you have over £6,000, we add £1.00 to the money we count each week. We do this when working out your entitlement. We call this money counted from your capital Tariff Income. We do not count any actual interest you get from savings and capital.

See 'Alternative Council Tax Reduction', sometimes called Second Adult Rebate, where the Capital Tariff does not apply. We count the actual interest received by the second adult.

What is an applicable amount?

This is a weekly figure, usually set yearly, by the Government. It represents the basic living needs of the claimant and family. An applicable amount is:

• a claimant's personal allowance;
• personal allowances for a partner and/or dependant children;
• premiums - for example, a family premium or disability premium.

If your weekly income is less than, or the same as your Applicable Amount, you will get a reduction. This is equal to your Council Tax liability. If this happens, you should claim Income Support. You may get more help. If your weekly income is more than your Applicable Amount, the amount of Council Tax Reduction entitlement you receive will be equal to the weekly Council Tax. We call any income over your Applicable Amount 'Excess Income'. This is less 20% of the weekly Excess Income figure, and less any non-dependant deductions.

What if I still have some Council Tax to pay?

You should contact our Council Tax Team if you cannot afford to pay. They will discuss with you options to make the payments more manageable.

How does the reduction work?

We apply the amount of reduction straight to your Council Tax Account. This reduces the amount of Council Tax you have to pay. You will receive a new bill showing the amounts you need to pay.