Household Guide · Updated July 2026
Council Tax Support 2026/27
Council Tax Support (also called Council Tax Reduction) can cut your council tax bill, sometimes to zero, if you are on a low income or claiming certain benefits. Unlike most benefits, it is not a single UK-wide scheme — each local authority designs its own rules. This guide explains how it works in 2026/27 and how to apply.
How Council Tax Support Works
Council Tax Support reduces the amount of council tax you owe rather than paying you cash, and is administered by your local council, not the Department for Work and Pensions or HMRC. Since 2013, each council in England has designed its own local scheme, so the amount of support, the qualifying income levels and the rules can differ significantly depending on where you live.
Scotland and Wales generally run more standardised schemes across their local authorities, but the underlying principle is the same everywhere: a working-age or pension-age household on a low income can have some or all of their council tax bill reduced.
Who Typically Qualifies
You may qualify if you are on a low income, whether from work, Universal Credit, other means-tested benefits, or the State Pension, and you are liable to pay council tax on your home. Pension-age claimants are usually assessed under more generous, more consistent rules across councils than working-age claimants.
Some councils apply a minimum contribution so even the lowest-income working-age households pay something towards their bill, while others allow a reduction to 100%. Savings and capital limits, and whether other adults live in your household, also affect the amount awarded.
How to Apply and Backdating
You apply directly through your local council, usually via an online form, regardless of whether you already claim Universal Credit or another benefit — Council Tax Support is not applied automatically just because you receive other support. Have details of your income, savings, household members and existing council tax account ready.
Backdating rules vary by council and by whether you are working-age or of pension age; pension-age claims can often be backdated further than working-age claims. Apply as soon as your circumstances change rather than waiting, since some councils only backdate a limited number of months.