Apply for a council tax reduction
You might be entitled to a council tax reduction if you're on a low income. Find out how to qualify and apply.
Eligibility criteria
- You must live in the property you're applying for
- You must be on a low income. This can be Department of Work and Pension (DWP) benefits or low paid work
- You must be the person responsible for paying the council tax bill
- You and your partner must not have combined savings or capital of £16,000. This is unless you're receiving Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
How to apply
Apply online (opens new window)
Proof of circumstances
You need to provide these documents for you and your partner. This includes proof of:
- evidence of your identity
- National Insurance number
- any savings, capital or investments
- any earnings
- bank statements
- any benefits, allowances or pensions
You can email your documents or post them to us.
If you decide to post your documents, we recommend you get a receipt of postage from the post office.
What happens next
We aim to process applications within 4 weeks.
You must also provide proof of circumstances within 14 days of submitting your form.
Your council tax bill
If you qualify, you'll receive a new bill with the reduction taken off the balance.
Your bill will show the reduction for the whole year. This could change if your circumstances change throughout the year.
It also includes charges made by Scottish Water for water and waste services. You still need to pay these charges even if you qualify for a reduction.
You can only make a request to backdate a claim if you can show a good reason for this. For example, if you were in hospital and too ill to make the claim.
Contact us if you think this applies to you.
Second adult reduction
This reduction is for single people who pay council tax and have other adults on a low income in the household.
