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Council Tax Discounts and Disabled Relief

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About Council Tax Discounts

Discounts aren't based on income. It doesn't matter about how much you have or the savings you have. A discount is given if your circumstances meet certain conditions.

Although Council Tax is a property-based tax, the charge also takes account of the number of people living at a property. Where there are less than 2 adults living at the property, then a discount is granted:

If there is 1 adult resident, the bill will be reduced by 25%.
If there are no residents the bill is charged as an empty property at 100%. However, it is possible to receive a 10% reduction if it is a furnished second home, or there may be 50% job related discount available if you own a second property because of your employment. For more information please contact our Council Tax helpline on 01909 533234 or 01909 533258. There is more information shown below.

Some people in the property are 'disregarded' or ignored for Council Tax. This means that even in a household where there are 2 people, if 1 is a disregarded person then a 25% discount will be given. More information can be found later about disregarded people.

Types of Discounts Available

Discounts available for each type of household
Household Type	Discount Available
In a one person household	25% discount
In a household where there is only one person over the age of 18	25% discount
One person in the household and that person is disregarded	50% discount
Two people in the household and one is disregarded	25% discount
In a two person household where no one is disregarded	No discount
In a three person household where 2 of the people are disregarded	25% discount
In a three person household where all of them are disregarded	50% discount

This list is only intended as a quick guide. There will be other situations where people qualify for a discount. If you are in any doubt or need advice contact us.

Single Occupier Discount on-line claim form

If you think you are entitled to a Single Occupier Discount, you can complete our online form:


Council Tax Reference*
First Name*
Surname*
Address including Postcode*	Address including Postcode
I live alone and wish to claim a single person discount from this date (dd/mmm/yyyy)*
Telephone Number
E-mail*
If you are applying for a Single Occupancy Discount, due to a change in your household circumstances. Please give detailed information here.	If you are applying for a Single Occupancy Discount, due to a change in your household circumstances. Please give detailed information here.
The personal information you have supplied on this form will be used for Admininstration of Council Tax and may be shared with other areas of the Council, the Police and other public bodies for the recovery of debt, prevention or detection of fraud or the detection or prevention of crime as permitted under the Data Protection ct 1998.
DECLARATION I wish to claim the single person discount of 25% because I am the only adult aged 18 or over, who lives at my property. If my circumstances change whereby I would not be entitled to the single person discount then I will notify the council tax office immediately. I declare to the best of my knowledge, the information I have provided is correct.
We may check the information you have provided against 3rd party data sources, to check that only persons entitled to the single occupier discount receive it.
Do you agree/disagree*	I agree I disagree
Send your request

Other Property Discounts

Discounts can apply to certain empty properties or second homes. However, following concerns about the growth of second homes Bassetlaw Disctrict council chose to only award a 10% reduction in Council Tax to unoccupied furnished properties which are second homes.

There are 2 classes of discount:

Class A - Dwelling which is unoccupied and furnished, but occupation is restricted by a planning condition for at least 28 days.

Class B - Dwelling which is unoccupied and furnished and which is not subject to a planning condition restricting occupancy for at least 28 days, e.g. potential second homes.

Job Related Discount

If the occupation of a property is necessary in order to do the job properly, or has been provided in order for the employee to perform their duties. Or as a result of a threat to an employee's security, or, the employee lives in the property as part of special security arrangement.

This could be a live-in caretaker or teacher, second home of a publican who is required to live in other licensed premises as a tenant of a brewery.

Ministers of Religion who may have a property elsewhere will also gain a 50% job related discount on their second home.

Disregarded People

Certain people are not counted when looking at the number of adults who are resident. For example, if two people occupy and one person falls into one of the disregard categories listed below (such as being a full time student), the bill will be calculated as if one person is in occupation.

If you are the person liable for the payment of Council Tax, but get a discount or are not counted, you will still be liable for paying the reduced Council Tax.

Apprentices

You are employed to learn a trade and undertaking a qualification recognised by the NCVQ. You must be paid a maximum of £195 per week, before tax, and expect to earn substantially more when qualified.

Youth Training Trainees

You are under 25 years of age, and receiving training recognised under the Youth Training Scheme.

Full time Students

You are regarded as a full time student for Council Tax purposes if:

You are attending a university or college course which lasts for at least one academic year, takes at least 24 weeks a year, and involves at least 21 hours allocated study time per week during term time.
You are under the age of 20 years and studying for more than three months, for at least 12 hours per week for any qualification up to 'A' level, ONC or OND standard.
Student Nurses studying academic courses at universities or who are on Project 2000 courses are classed as students for Council Tax purposes.
The period of the student's course runs from the day the course begins until it is completed (the end of the exams) or the student leaves the course uncompleted.

Student Nurses

You will be counted as a Student Nurse if you are on a course leading to registration on any of Parts 1 to 6, or 8 on the register. Only Student Nurses studying for first inclusion on the register are not counted.

Resident hospital patients

You will not be counted if you are a patient in a hospital, which is your only main home. If you are in hospital for a short time and have a home elsewhere, you will still be liable for Council Tax at your home.

Resident in a residential care home, nursing home, mental nursing home and hostels providing a high level of care

You will not be counted if you live, and are receiving care, in one of these places, so long as it is your only main home.

People who are severely mentally impaired

For Council Tax purposes, a person is regarded as being severely mentally impaired if they suffer, for whatever reason, from severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent.

In order to receive the discount, the person must gain a certificate from their doctor confirming their impairment.
The person must also be entitled to one of a number of qualifying Benefits.

People staying in certain hostels and night shelters

A person whose main or only residence is a short stay hostel or night shelter, providing communal accommodation for persons with no fixed abode.

Members of religious communities

You must depend on the community for all your material needs and have no personal income or capital.

Only members whose main work is prayer, contemplation, the relief of suffering, education or a combination of the above are counted.

Over 18, but your parent/guardian still entitled to receive Child Benefit

You will not be counted if you are 18 or 19 years old and in full time education, other than higher education.

You will not be counted if you left school after 30 April until 1 November of the same year.

Carers

You will not be counted if you live with, and care for some one, with a disability who is receiving one of certain allowances or a disablement pension.

You must be providing care for 35 hours per week on average. Persons caring for a husband or wife, or living as a husband or wife, or a child under 18 years cannot receive this discount.

Somebody who cares for an elderly person or a person with a diability in return for a payment of up to £44 per week, can also receive a discount.

People in prison

Prisoners who are on remand or are in prison are not counted, except if they are in Prison for non payment of a fine or Council Tax.

Foreign language assistants

You will need to be registered with the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges and, for the purposes of Council Tax, will be treated as a student.

Members of Visiting Forces, International HQ's and Defence Organisations

You will not be counted if you are a member of one of the above, or a dependant.

Disabled Relief Reduction

If a disabled person lives at a property, the person responsible for paying the bill may be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax.

To qualify for a reduction, the disabled person must live at the property and one of the following must apply:

There must be a room, which is not a bathroom or a kitchen or lavatory which is mainly used by, and is required to meet the needs of the disabled person; or
A bathroom or kitchen which is not the only bathroom or kitchen within the property and which is essential for meeting the needs of the disabled person; or
Enough floor space for the use of a wheelchair which is necessary for meeting the needs of the disabled person.

You will need to complete an application form, contact our helpline and one will be issued to you, alternatively you can download a form (pdf) which you cn complete and post into us.

You will need to get the form signed by your doctor or a health professional to support your application. We will also need to visit the property and we will telephone you to arrange a convenient time.

If the disabled person leaves the property on a permanent basis then the relief will be cancelled, you need to tell us.

If you qualify for a reduction the Council Tax Bill is worked out on a band less than that normally used. For example, if your property is in Band C you will be charged Council Tax for a Band B property. Previously, if a property was in Band A then no reduction could be granted as this was the lowest band. However, from 1st April 2000 the government has changed the rules to include properties in Band A. Now, if you qualify for disabled relief the reduction for a Band A property will be 1/9th of a Band D property.

We may review the reduction on a yearly basis, we may send a letter to ask the person who pays the Council Tax Bill to confirm that the disabled person is still living at the property and that their circumstances are the same.

It is also important to remember that if the disabled person lives alone or there are 'disregarded' people living at the property then there may be a discount due as well.

Visit the Directgov website where you will find other information that you may find helpful and informative. Directgov - public services all in one place.