Can I Claim Council Tax Benefit?

We want everyone who would qualify for Council Tax Benefit to claim the help they are entitled to receive.

You can make a claim for Council Tax Benefit if:

You own your home (either outright or you have a mortgage).

You are the person whose name is on the Council Tax Bill.

If you are jointly responsible for Council Tax we can help pay your share of the bill.

Tell me about the circumstances where I will not be entitled to claim Council Tax Benefit

You will not be entitled to any Council Tax Benefit if:

You are not responsible for paying the Council Tax bill.

Either you or your partner, or both of you together, have more than £16000 in savings (unless you get the guaranteed part of Pension Credit).

You are an asylum seeker, unless you've been given refugee status or indefinite or exceptional leave (also called discretionary or humanitarian leave) to remain in the United Kingdom.

You have been admitted to the United Kingdom on the condition that you have no recourse to public funds. This means that you must not claim benefits.

You are a sponsored immigrant and have lived here for less than five years.

You are in the United Kingdom illegally or your permission to stay has run out.

It is advisable to visit our webpage People from Abroad, if you are considering making a claim for Council Tax Benefit, but are newly arrived in or recently returned to the United Kingdom.

Council Tax Benefit and Equity Release

Equity Release is a way that older homeowners can use their homes to generate income and capital, whilst still continuing to live there.

If the homeowner is receiving Council Tax Benefit and opts for Equity Release, it could mean that they are no longer entitled to Council Tax Benefit, or their entitlement is reduced. It is, therefore, very important that they notify Sheffield Benefits Service if they decide to release the equity in their home.

There are many different Equity Release schemes available and anyone considering it is strongly recommended to seek expert advice before doing so. Age Concern has produced information about Equity Release and Income-Related Benefits.

I don't think that I am eligible to claim Council Tax Benefit, is there anything else I can do to reduce my Council Tax bill?

If you share you home with other Non-dependant adults, who are on low income, and you do not have a partner, you may be able to claim a Second Adult Rebate.

If you or someone who lives with you has a disability, and your home has been adapted to meet the needs of the disabled person, you may qualify for a reduction in your Council Tax. This is known as Disabled Person's Relief.

Information about Other Discounts can be found on the Council Tax webpages.

To find out what to do and where to go to get further information go to Points of Contact for Benefit Help.

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