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 on-line
claim form.
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.
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all in one place.