Council Tax Support

If you are on a low income, the Council Tax Support Scheme can help towards paying your Council Tax.

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.

Apply for Council Tax Support

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.

Upload benefits information

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]

Further help 

If you get Council Tax Support but still have some Council Tax to pay and cannot afford to pay it, contact us straight away.

Where the shortfall is causing exceptional financial hardship, you can apply for Exceptional Hardship Payments. For more information contact benefits@nfdc.gov.uk or phone 01590 646121.

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.