People disregarded from paying Council Tax

If you are a live-in carer, care worker, or a care leaver, you may qualify for a Council Tax discount. This is because some adults can be disregarded when we calculate how many people live in a property for Council Tax purposes.

Who qualifies as a live-in carer?

You may be disregarded if you:

• Provide care for at least 35 hours per week
• Live in the same property as the person you care for
• Are not their spouse, partner, or the parent of a child under 18
• The person you care for receives one of the following benefits:
  • Any rate of Attendance Allowance
  • Middle or highest rate of Disability Living Allowance (care component)
  • Any rate of Personal Independence Payment (daily living component)
  • An increased Disablement Pension
  • An increased Constant Attendance Allowance
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

This discount is not applicable to people caring for someone they live with as a married or unmarried couple (including same-sex couples and civil partners), or a parent caring for a child under 18.

Care workers

You may be disregarded if you:

• Are employed by a local authority, charity or the Crown
• Provide care for at least 24 hours per week
• Earn no more than £44 per week for this work

Apply for carer or care worker discount

Care leavers

If you are under 25 and have recently left care, you may qualify for a disregard.

How to tell if you qualify as a Care Leaver

You are deemed to be a Care Leaver if you:

• Are aged under 25
• Were previously in local authority care
• Are supported by a personal adviser or someone from the Leaving Care Team within any local authority Social Services department

What will you pay?

• If you live alone in the property you will have nothing to pay
• If you live with other people, all of whom are Care Leavers, you will have nothing to pay
• If you live with someone else who is not a Care Leaver the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 25%
• If you live with two or more people who are not Care Leavers, no discount is available

The reduction can only be paid up to your 25th birthday.

How to apply

If you meet the above criteria and with to apply for this Council Tax discount, you can apply using the application form.

Care leaver application form

Important information

• Each application will be considered on its individual merits
• You may need to provide evidence of your caring role and the qualifying benefit
• If you qualify, this could reduce your Council Tax bill by changing the number of adults counted in your household