Council Tax Support

Council Tax Support is a benefit applied to your Council Tax bill.

The amount of support you could get depends on the total earnings of both you and your partner. If there are other adults living in your home, the amount of support will be reduced based on their earnings.

Who can claim

You could get Council Tax Support if you live in Brent and you’re:

• living in the property as your main home
• liable to pay Council Tax at that the property
• a working age person with savings under £6,000
• a pensioner with savings under £16,000

Check if you are eligible

Before you apply, use our benefits calculator to check if you are eligible and how much you might get.The calculator should be used as a guide only. The estimate is based on the information you have entered and does not guarantee entitlement.

How to apply

You can apply for Council Tax Support online using My Account.

• If you don't already have a My Account, you will need to register first. Then you can access the application form.
• The person claiming Council Tax Support must complete the form themselves.
• The form will ask about you and any people who live with you, you will need to provide details of income, capital and other benefits currently received.

Before you apply for Council Tax Support, there are several other discounts, disregards and exemptions available that you might be eligible for.

For people on Universal Credit

Help with paying your Council Tax will still be provided through the Council Tax Support Scheme. You can indicate that you want to claim this when you make your claim for Universal Credit or apply using the form on this page.

For people receiving disability benefits

Everyone will need to pay at least 35% of their Council Tax, including those on disability benefits like Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payments (PIP), or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). We know this might be worrying. Please check if you qualify for any Council Tax discounts or exemptions. You can also look into Brent’s Council Tax Hardship Fund for extra help if you’ve tried other options.

How much support you can get

If you are of working age, you will pay a minimum contribution of 35% of your Council Tax bill.

The amount of Council Tax Support you can receive will depend on the weekly earnings of you and your partner. This is calculated in an income banding scheme.

Your income does not include any DWP or HMRC benefits and any income from foster caring.

Non-dependent adult reductions

A non-dependant is a person over the age of 18 who lives in your home but is not your partner.

Non-dependent deductions are made to the maximum entitlement shown in the table above.

Documents you'll need

When you apply, you may need to provide evidence of your identity, income, savings and other capital.

Please provide these documents for all members of the household:

Identity

Income

Savings, assets and investments

Please provide these documents for the person claiming and their partner:

Further help paying your Council Tax bill 

If you are worried about being able to pay your council tax bill when it arrives, there is help and support available.

• Brent Hubs: Visit one of our seven Brent Hubs for advice and support with benefits, money management, debt and emergency assistance.
• Cost of Living Support: Get help and advice on managing everyday costs in our dedicated Cost of Living pages 
• Council Tax Hardship Fund: If you are having severe difficulty paying your bill, you may be able to apply for a Council Tax Hardship Fund.