Council Tax Support
If you are on a low income, the Council Tax Support Scheme can help towards paying your Council Tax.
On this page:
Eligibility for Council Tax Support
Anyone who has to pay Council Tax can apply for Council Tax Support. However, this scheme is there to help people on a low income.
The amount you get depends on your income and circumstances. It is worked out by looking at:
- your household
- any other adults living with you
- your income and savings
- personal circumstances, such as a disability
You will not be entitled to any support if you have savings of more than:
- £6,000 if you are of working age (unless you get a disability benefit)
- £16,000 if you are of pensionable age (unless you get Guaranteed Pension Credit)
How to make your claim
To make your claim for Council Tax Support, complete the online application form below.
We will tell you what information you need to provide and you can include this with your application.
Providing supporting information
You will need to provide information to support your Council Tax Support claim. We need this as soon as possible so we can process your claim.
You will need to provide proof of:
- your ID, such as a passport, utility bill or driving licence
- your income (and your partner if you have one), such as payslips or a letter from former employer if you get a pension
- any childcare costs you pay, such as receipts showing the amount you pay, how often and the Ofsted registration number
- your capital, such as bank statements for the last two months or share certificates
- income details of other adults living with you
You can send these to us by email at benefits@nfdc.gov.uk or upload your information using our online form below.
How Council Tax Support is worked out
We work out your Council Tax Support by comparing your weekly income with your applicable amount. Your applicable amount is the minimum amount the Government says you and your family need to live on each week.
If you are of working age, you will pay at least ten per cent of your Council Tax bill (unless you are getting a disability benefit).
We also make deductions for non-dependants. These are adults living with you who are not your partner.
If you are entitled to Council Tax Support, this amount will show as a reduction on your Council Tax bill.
For full details of the Council Tax Support Scheme, please see below.
Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2023_24 (PDF) [1MB]
Exceptional Hardship Payments
Exceptional Hardship Payments (EHP) are there to help residents who are getting Council Tax Support but still have some Council Tax to pay and are facing exceptional financial hardship. Any award of EHP is at the discretion of the Council and is intended to be a short term award to give residents time to seek assistance and resolve their financial difficulties. Each case is considered on its own merits, and as funding is limited awards will only be made in exceptional circumstances.
To make a claim for Exceptional Hardship Payments, complete the online application form below.
Apply for Exceptional Hardship Payments
To help with paying council tax, we may also be able to defer or spread your Council Tax instalments, or you can pay on a weekly basis. For help and advice, phone 01590 646111.
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