• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
• Business Rates
• Council Tax
  • Council Tax Billing Information 2013-14
  • View Your Council Tax Account
  • How to pay
  • What is Council Tax?
  • Who has to pay Council Tax?
  • Discounts and Exemptions
  • Can someone contact the council on my behalf?
  • Council Tax Appeals
  • Council Tax Reduction
  • Changes in Your Address or Circumstances
  • Recovery of Council Tax
  • Information for landlords
  • Service Standards
  • Completion Notices
• Electoral Services
• Parking
• Licensing
• Cemetery Services
• Commercial and Community Property
• Food Safety
• Hackney Carriages (Taxis) and Private Hire Vehicles
• Health and Safety at work
• Schools
• Roads and transport
• Care and support
• Births, deaths and marriages
• Street Naming and Numbering

Council Tax Reduction

How and when to claim

Our Benefits Calculator can tell you if you may be entitled to a  Council Tax Reduction. You should then contact our benefits department to make a claim, however, only those named on the Council Tax bill can claim  a Council Tax Reduction. You should make a claim for a reduction as soon as you think you need to because the reduction cannot normally be backdated. If you know your circumstances are going to change, you can claim up to eight weeks before the change is due to happen.

If you make a claim for Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), you can claim Council Tax Reduction at the same time. The Benefits Agency should pass the form to us but we do recommend you also contact our Benefits Section.

If you wish to claim Council Tax Reduction and you have not received a form please contact our Benefits Section.

Forms are available from any of our council offices.

Other discounts

Your council tax bill can also be reduced due to other circumstances. More information is available in our Discounts and Exemptions section.

Change of circumstances

If you claim Council Tax Reduction and/or Second Adult Rebate, you must keep us informed about any changes happening to you and the people living with you that may affect the amount you are entitled to receive.

Even small changes may affect how much we can pay you.

• The sort of changes you must tell us about
•  Report changes to your circumstances [34KB]