Council tax discounts
How to apply for a council tax discount
- Follow the links under 'Further information' below to the description of the discount that applies to you;
- Download and print the relevant form;
- Complete the form, sign and date it;
- Return it to Revenues Services at the address at the foot of this page (also included on the form).
Downloads
The following link(s) require a plug-in, and will open in a new browser window [
]. About downloading files.
Further information
Choose a discount for more information & the application form
- single occupier (the only one living in a property)
- owners of second homes
- people in detention (e.g. in prison, detained under the Mental Health Act)
- severely mentally impaired people
- carers and careworkers
- people living in hostels/nightshelters
- student nurses/apprentices/youth trainees and Foreign Language Assistants
- full-time students
- school and college leavers
- members of religious communities
- diplomats
- people for whom child benefit is still payable
- members and dependants of International Headquarters and Defence Organisations
- members and dependants of Visiting Forces
Single occupier discount
The full council tax bill assumes there are two adults living in a property. You can cut your bill by 25% if you are the only person aged 18 or over living in your home.
Download the single occupier discount form now [PDF, 57k]
Second Homes
Discounts for people who own second homes
Download the second homes discount form now [PDF, 55k]
Persons in detention
Discounts are available for anyone who is:
- detained in prison, hospital or elsewhere by order of a court, unless they are detained for not paying fines or council tax;
- in custody for more than 48 hours under the various army, air force and navy acts;
- detained under the Mental Health Act 1983;
- detained under the Immigration Act 1971.
Download the persons in detention discount form now [PDF, 50k]
Severely mentally impaired
Severely mentally impaired people (people with a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning, however caused, which appears to be permanent) are not counted as living in a property for council tax purposes if:
- they are entitled to one of the qualifying benefits listed below, or;
- they would have been entitled to one of those benefits had they not reached pensionable age, or;
- if the person has a partner who receives job seekers allowance which is increased on the grounds of that person’s incapacity for work.
Qualifying benefits for severely mentally impaired discounts
- Incapacity benefit
- Attendance allowance
- Severe disablement allowance
- The care component of a disability living allowance (higher or middle rate)
- An increase in the rate of disablement pension where constant attendance is needed
- Disabled person’s tax credit (disability working allowance)
- An unemployability supplement
- Constant attendance allowance
- An unemployability allowance
- Income support disability premium awarded on the grounds of incapacity for work
- Incapacity benefit under sections 40 and 41 of the Social Security (contribution and Benefits) Act 1992.
We will contact the person’s doctor to ask for a certificate confirming your claim.
A dwelling occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired and who are liable to pay council tax may be exempt from council tax.
Download the severely mentally impaired discount form now [PDF, 53k]
Carers and careworkers
Discounts are available for people providing care or support to one or more people. The 'professional carer’:
- has to be providing care on behalf of a local authority or charity;
- can be employed by an individual, but have to have been introduced by a charity;
- must be employed for at least 24 hours per week;
- must not be paid more than £44 per week;
- must live in the premises that are provided for their job.
or, the 'home carer’:
- must be providing care to a person who is entitled to one of these benefits:
- higher rate attendance allowance;
- highest rate care component of disability living allowance;
- increased rate of disablement pension, paid at the highest rate;
- an increased rate of constant attendance allowance;
- has to live in the same place as the person who they are providing care to;
- has to provide care for at least 35 hours per week;
- must not be a ‘disqualified’ relative (e.g. spouse or parent of child under 18)
Download the carers & careworkers discount form now [PDF, 54k]
People living in hostels/nightshelters
People are not counted as living in a property for council tax purposes if their sole or main residence is in a hostel.
A hostel is a property which must mainly be:
- providing residential accommodation as hostel or night shelter, and;
- not in separate and self-contained sets of premises, and;
- provided for people of no fixed abode or settled way of life, and;
- provided under a licence to occupy which is not a tenancy.
Download the hostels/nightshelters discount form now [PDF, 46k]
Student nurses/apprentices/youth trainees and Foreign Language Assistants
People are not counted as living in a property for council tax purposes if they are:
- student nurses;
- apprentices;
- youth training trainees, or;
- Foreign Language Assistants.
Please read the section below which applies to you
5A Student nurses
A student nurse is someone who is undertaking a course which, when completed, will lead to registration on any Parts 1 to 6 or 8 of the Register maintained under section 10 of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 as a first inclusion on that Register.
Download the student nurses discount form now [PDF, 52k]
5B Apprentices
- employed to learn a trade, business, profession, office, employment, vocation, and;
- undertaking a programme of training leading to a qualification officially recognised by theQualifications and Curriculum Authorityor the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SCOTVEQ), and;
- employed at a salary or in receipt of an allowance which is much less than it would be for a person with qualification and no more than £195 per week (gross earning) – (£140.00 prior to 1/04/07).
Download the apprentices discount form now [PDF, 53k]
5C Youth training trainees
A youth training trainee is:
- under 25 years old, and
- undertaking training -
- covered by section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1073(a);
- which is funded by the Learning and Skills Council for England.
Download the youth training trainees discount form now [PDF, 57k]
5D Foreign Language Assistants
A foreign Language Assistant is:
- registered with the British Council, and;
- working as a foreign language assistant at a school or other educational institution in Great Britain.
Download the Foreign Language Assistant discount form now [PDF, 50k]
Full-Time Students
Students are not counted as living in a property for council tax purposes if they are:
- under the age of 20 and undergoing a course of further education which is:
- at least 3 months in duration;
- involves at least 12 hours instruction, tuition, and/or supervised study per week;
- not a correspondence course;
- not undertaken as a consequence of their job, and;
- not an evening course.
Or, undertaking a full-time education course which:
- is of at least one academic year’s duration, (or calendar year) and;
- requires attendance of a least 24 weeks per year, and;
- requires an average of 21 hours study per week throughout the 24 week period.
During vacations a property is still counted as the student’s term-time address so long as the student has a right to occupy and has previously used or intends to use the property as term-time accommodation.
A property is exempt from council tax if:
- it is a hall of residence, or;
- all the residents are students, or;
- it is an unoccupied property which was formerly the sole/main residence of one or more students, of which at least one is the owner and has moved away for studies.
Download the full-time students discount form now [PDF, 53k]
More on council tax exemptions
School and college leavers
Under 20 years of age, who have ended a qualifying course of education between 30th April and 1st November in any year. This discount only applies until 1st November in that year.
Download the school & college leavers discount form now [PDF, 48k]
Members of religious communities
Where the main occupation is prayer, contemplation, education or the relief of suffering. The community has to have no income or capital of its own (except pensions from earlier employment) and rely on the community for its needs.
Download the member of religious communities discount form now [PDF, 48k]
Diplomats
Those who have diplomatic privileges and immunities under the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964, and who are not British citizens or permanent UK residents.
Download the diplomats discount form now [PDF, 59k]
People for whom child benefit is still payable
People are not counted as living in a property for council tax purposes if they have:
- reached the age of 18 years, but;
- their parent/guardian is still entitled to child benefit for them.
You must tell us if the child benefit stops, as this may affect your discount.
Download the child benefit discount form now [PDF, 44k]
Members and dependants of International Headquarters and Defence Organisations
...under the International Headquarters and Defence Organisations Act 1964.
Members and dependants of Visiting Forces
...under the Visiting Forces Act 1952.
Download the members & dependants of Visiting Forces discount form now [PDF, 50k]
Related pages on this website
Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Billing Assistant |
|---|---|
| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | counciltax@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| freephone: | 0808 178 7141 |
| telephone: | 01508 533775 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk Council South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
|
|
|
If you need information in large print, audio cassette, braille, translation (written or verbal) or signed interpretation, let us know when you contact us.
