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Council tax benefit is paid to help people pay their council tax. This page explains more about what it is, what it covers and who can claim it.

What is it?

Council tax benefit is paid by the council to help people pay their council tax. You could be a tenant or a home owner. Find out more about council tax and who has to pay it.

Who can claim?

If you are liable to pay council tax you might be able to get council tax benefit if you:

• have a low income
• are receiving welfare benefits.

If you think that you might be entitled to council tax benefit, you should submit a claim form.

The council tax benefit department will let you know if you are entitled to any help. This will depend on your circumstances.

What does council tax benefit cover?

Council tax bills are split into two parts, a charge for council tax and a charge for water and waste water.

Council tax benefit only covers the council tax charge. However, some council tax exemptions or discounts continue to apply to water and waste water charges. As of 1 April 2006, a reduction (of up to 25%) will be applied to households with two or more adults, who are in receipt of council tax benefit and are not already exempt from paying council tax, for example, because they are a child, a student or a severely mentally impaired person - read the page on discounts to find out more.

This discount will be deducted from your bill automatically. Contact your local council to find out more.

If you do get council tax benefit, it may not be for the full amount of your council tax charge. There may be a shortfall, which you will have to make up yourself.

When should I claim?

If you think that you might be entitled, you should claim as soon as possible. Council tax benefit is usually only paid from the Monday after the council tax department receives your claim form, as long as you provide all the information to support your claim within 28 days.

If you think that you might have been entitled at any time in the last year and you have good reason from not having claimed earlier (for example, because you were ill), you may be able to get your benefit backdated.

I am going to claim, can I stop paying my council tax?

No. Remember, even if you get full council tax benefit, you will have to keep paying the water and sewerage charge.

If you can afford to, don't stop paying your council tax charge unless you are confident that you will receive full council tax benefit. You may not be entitled to full benefit, leaving you to make up the rest. Council tax benefit claims can take a long time to process and you could be left with huge council tax arrears.

If possible, try to find out approximately how much help you might be entitled to when you hand in your form. If you rent your home from the council or a housing association, you should ask if they have a welfare rights officer who should be able to help you.

If you need help with your claim, contact Citizens Advice, your local council or other local advice centre. Use the Advice Services Directory to find agencies in your area.