The amount of Council Tax you are charged is based upon two or more adults living in a dwelling.
Single Resident Discount
If only one adult lives in a dwelling (as their main home) a Single Resident Discount of 25% can be given.
Empty Property Discount
If a dwelling is no-one’s main home, an Empty Property Discount of up to 10% may be given. This applies to furnished empty dwellings and second homes.
There is no discount for long term empty homes which are unfurnished and have been empty and exempt for 6 months. After six months exemption, the full amount is chargeable.
Disregarded Adults
People in the following groups are disregarded and do not count towards the number of adults resident in the dwelling:
Hospital Patients -
- Patients who are permanently living in an NHS hospital
Patients in Nursing Homes, Residential Care Homes and Hostels -
- If the person is receiving care or treatment at the home
Homeless People in Hostels and Shelters -
- Where accommodation is provided for people who have no fixed address or settled way of life
Carers - We do not count a carer who lives with and provides care, for at least 35 hours a week, for a person entitled to one of the following benefits:
- The higher rate of Attendance Allowance
- The higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
- An increased rate of Disablement Pension
- An increased rate of Constant Attendance Allowance
However, we have to count a carer for Council Tax if he or she is the partner, married or living together as if married, of the person he or she is providing care for.
We do not count a carer for Council Tax if he or she is the parent and the person being cared for is 18 or older
Care Workers -
- If the Care Worker is employed for at least 24 hours a week and is not paid more than £36 a week.
Prisoners -
- As long as they are not imprisoned for not paying their Council Tax or for non payment of a fine
People who are Severely Mentally Impaired -
- This applies if they are entitled to a qualifying benefit from the DWP for their mental illness, for example, Invalidity Pension or Attendance Allowance
People who Child Benefit is Paid For -
- If Child Benefit is paid for the person, we would disregard them until the date on which the Child Benefit stops
School Leavers -
- If they are under 20 and leave school between 1 May and 31 October, we will disregard them until the 1 November of the year they leave school
Students -
- We disregard full time students
Student Nurses -
- We disregard Project 2000 nurses and students of any course that leads to their first registration under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979
Youth Training Trainees -
- They must be under 25 and carrying out an approved scheme of Youth Training
Apprentices -
- This applies to people learning a trade or business and taking a qualifying course approved by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. However, they must be earning less than £160 per week
Other exempt adults include:
Members of religious communities, however they must have no income, savings or investments of their own and have to rely on the religious community for their needs.
If you think you may be entitled to a discount please contact the Council Tax Department.
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