Sixteen DWP benefits that qualify for council tax bill reduction including Universal Credit and pension credit --[Reported by Umva mag]

THOUSANDS of households can get their council tax reduced or even wiped entirely. The support you can receive depends on your personal circumstances and your local authority. GettyIf you’re based in England or Scotland, you must contact your local authority for a claim form to register for a council tax discount[/caption] Several factors influence the extent of the discount you might receive, such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you are in receipt of any benefits. Therefore, if you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could qualify for a reduction in your council tax. However, eligibility criteria vary depending on your location. Councils retain the authority to set their own eligibility requirements, and your income may affect your claim, even if you are claiming benefits. If you are struggling to pay your bill, you might also be able to arrange a deferral or discuss setting up a payment plan with your council to help manage the cost. Those claiming the following benefits are likely to be eligible for money off their bill: Income support Employment and support allowance (ESA) Jobseeker’s allowance Pension credit – guaranteed credit Universal Credit The amount you can get your council tax reduced will vary, so you’ll need to check with your local council. However, those claiming the following benefits and who are classified as “severely mentally impaired” could get their council tax completely wiped: Universal Credit with limited capability for work or work related activity Employment support allowance (ESA) Attendance allowance Standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP) Middle or higher rate care component of disability living allowance Armed forces independence payment The disability element in working tax credit Incapacity benefit Severe disablement allowance An increase in disablement pension for constant attendance Unemployability supplement Constant attendance allowance paid from industrial injuries scheme Unemployability allowance paid from war pension schemes Income support, including a disability premium due to incapacity for work What is the severe mentally impaired discount? This allows households to apply for a discount on their council tax bill if you or someone they live with is severely mentally impaired. To be eligible for the discount you’ll need to: Get a certificate to say you’re severely mentally impaired from a medical professional, such as your GP. Prove your eligibility for certain benefits which you can check with your local council. If you qualify as severely mentally impaired you’ll get a 100% discount if one of the following applies: You live on your own Any other adults in your household either qualify as severely mentally impaired or are full-time students If nobody else in your home is classed as severely mentally impaired and is disregarded from paying council tax like live-in carers – your council tax will be reduced by 50%. And if you live with someone who is severely mentally impaired you’ll get a 25% discount as long as either: There are no other adults in your household Everyone else in your home is disregarded Your income and savings won’t affect whether you can get this discount. OTHER COUNCIL TAX DISCOUNTS IF you're struggling with your council tax costs, it's worth checking out whether you're entitled to reduce your tax bill, which can save you thousands of pounds. Some people can even get their bills slashed by 100%, meaning they wouldn’t pay anything at all. Here are all the other discounts available. If you’re a pensioner If you don’t receive the guaranteed credit part of pension credit, you could still get a council tax discount if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings. If you live alone, you will get the 25% reduction, even if you’re not entitled to any benefits. If you live alone If you’re the only adult in your home, you can get a 25% discount on your council tax bill. This includes if you’re a single parent with children under 18 in the house. Usually, you’ll need to let your local council know to get the reduction. Even if other adults are in your home, you might still get the 25% reduction, as some groups of people are “disregarded” for council tax purposes. If you’re a student Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay any council tax. To qualify as a full-time student, your course must: Last at least one year Involve at least 21 hours study per week If you’re between 18 and 20 and doing A Levels or equivalent, your course must last at least three months and involve at least 12 hours of study a week. If there is an adult who is not a student in your household, they will need to

Oct 14, 2024 - 11:35

Sixteen DWP benefits that qualify for council tax bill reduction including Universal Credit and pension credit --[Reported by Umva mag]

THOUSANDS of households can get their council tax reduced or even wiped entirely.

The support you can receive depends on your personal circumstances and your local authority.

a pen sits on top of a notebook that says council tax bill

If you’re based in England or Scotland, you must contact your local authority for a claim form to register for a council tax discount[/caption]

Several factors influence the extent of the discount you might receive, such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you are in receipt of any benefits.

Therefore, if you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could qualify for a reduction in your council tax.

However, eligibility criteria vary depending on your location.

Councils retain the authority to set their own eligibility requirements, and your income may affect your claim, even if you are claiming benefits.

If you are struggling to pay your bill, you might also be able to arrange a deferral or discuss setting up a payment plan with your council to help manage the cost.

Those claiming the following benefits are likely to be eligible for money off their bill:

Income support
Employment and support allowance (ESA)
Jobseeker’s allowance
Pension credit – guaranteed credit
Universal Credit

The amount you can get your council tax reduced will vary, so you’ll need to check with your local council.

However, those claiming the following benefits and who are classified as “severely mentally impaired” could get their council tax completely wiped:

Universal Credit with limited capability for work or work related activity
Employment support allowance (ESA)
Attendance allowance
Standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
Middle or higher rate care component of disability living allowance
Armed forces independence payment
The disability element in working tax credit
Incapacity benefit
Severe disablement allowance
An increase in disablement pension for constant attendance
Unemployability supplement
Constant attendance allowance paid from industrial injuries scheme
Unemployability allowance paid from war pension schemes
Income support, including a disability premium due to incapacity for work

What is the severe mentally impaired discount?

This allows households to apply for a discount on their council tax bill if you or someone they live with is severely mentally impaired.

To be eligible for the discount you’ll need to:

Get a certificate to say you’re severely mentally impaired from a medical professional, such as your GP.
Prove your eligibility for certain benefits which you can check with your local council.

If you qualify as severely mentally impaired you’ll get a 100% discount if one of the following applies:

You live on your own
Any other adults in your household either qualify as severely mentally impaired or are full-time students

If nobody else in your home is classed as severely mentally impaired and is disregarded from paying council tax like live-in carers – your council tax will be reduced by 50%.

And if you live with someone who is severely mentally impaired you’ll get a 25% discount as long as either:

There are no other adults in your household
Everyone else in your home is disregarded

Your income and savings won’t affect whether you can get this discount.

OTHER COUNCIL TAX DISCOUNTS

IF you're struggling with your council tax costs, it's worth checking out whether you're entitled to reduce your tax bill, which can save you thousands of pounds.

Some people can even get their bills slashed by 100%, meaning they wouldn’t pay anything at all.

Here are all the other discounts available.

If you’re a pensioner

If you don’t receive the guaranteed credit part of pension credit, you could still get a council tax discount if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.

If you live alone, you will get the 25% reduction, even if you’re not entitled to any benefits.

If you live alone

If you’re the only adult in your home, you can get a 25% discount on your council tax bill.

This includes if you’re a single parent with children under 18 in the house.

Usually, you’ll need to let your local council know to get the reduction.

Even if other adults are in your home, you might still get the 25% reduction, as some groups of people are “disregarded” for council tax purposes.

If you’re a student

Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay any council tax.

To qualify as a full-time student, your course must:

Last at least one year
Involve at least 21 hours study per week

If you’re between 18 and 20 and doing A Levels or equivalent, your course must last at least three months and involve at least 12 hours of study a week.

If there is an adult who is not a student in your household, they will need to pay council tax, but should still qualify for a discount if everyone else is a student.

How do I apply for a council tax reduction?

If you’re based in England or Scotland, you need to contact your local authority for a claim form to register for a council tax discount.

You can find this via the Government’s “Apply for Council Tax Reduction” service by visiting www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.

After the claim is accepted, the discount should apply automatically every year.

Councils are not legally obliged to backdate any claims, but they might, depending on where you are based.

If you live in Wales, there is a national scheme.

You can find out more by visiting www.gov.wales/council-tax-discounts-and-reduction.

What energy bill help is available?

There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.

If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.

This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.

If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.

Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.

But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.

British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.

You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.

Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.

Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.

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