Council Tax Reduction and discounts for older households
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
There are two separate ways to cut a Council Tax bill: Council Tax Reduction, which depends on your income and savings and can cut the bill by up to 100%, and discounts that have nothing to do with income, such as 25% off if you live alone. You apply for both through your local council.
Council Tax Reduction (means-tested)
Council Tax Reduction, sometimes called Council Tax Support, lowers your bill if you are on a low income or claim benefits. GOV.UK says your bill could be reduced by up to 100%. You can apply whether you own your home or rent, and whether or not you are working.
What you get depends on:
- where you live (each council runs its own scheme)
- your circumstances, such as income, pensions and savings, including your partner's
- whether other adults live with you
If you get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, you are very likely to qualify for substantial help, which is one more reason to make that claim. You can also qualify without Pension Credit if your income is modest.
How to apply
Apply to your local council. In England and Wales, enter your postcode on the Council Tax Reduction page on GOV.UK and it will take you to the right council. In Scotland, apply through your council's website or office. If you are making a new claim for Pension Credit, mention Council Tax Reduction at the same time and ask how to claim it.
Discounts that do not depend on income
Living alone: 25% off
A full Council Tax bill assumes two adults live in the home. If you are the only adult, you get 25% off. This is one of the most commonly missed reductions after a bereavement: if your husband, wife or partner has died or moved permanently into a care home, tell the council.
People who are "disregarded"
Some people are not counted when the council works out how many adults live in a home. They include people who are severely mentally impaired (for example, with advanced dementia) and some live-in carers. If everyone else in your home is disregarded, you can get the 25% discount even though you do not live alone.
Severe mental impairment
This is a formal term covering conditions that severely affect intelligence and social functioning, such as dementia or the effects of a severe stroke. You need a certificate from a medical professional, such as a GP, and the person usually needs to be entitled to a qualifying benefit; your council will tell you which. According to GOV.UK:
- someone who is severely mentally impaired and lives alone gets a 100% discount
- if you live with one person who is severely mentally impaired and there are no other adults (or the others are disregarded), you get 25% off
Disabled Band Reduction
If a disabled person lives in your home and it has been adapted or is larger because of their needs, the bill can be dropped to the next band down. You need to show one of: an extra bathroom, kitchen or other room needed by the disabled person, or extra space inside for using a wheelchair. If your home is already in the lowest band (Band A), you get a 17% discount instead. See Council Tax discounts for disabled people on GOV.UK.
A summary
| Help | Depends on income? | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Council Tax Reduction | Yes | People on a low income or certain benefits |
| Single person discount (25%) | No | The only adult in the home |
| Severe mental impairment discount | No | People with a certified condition such as dementia, and those who live with them |
| Disabled Band Reduction | No | Homes adapted or larger because of a disabled resident |
You can have more than one of these at once. For example, someone living alone on Pension Credit may get the 25% discount first and Council Tax Reduction on what is left.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has domestic rates rather than Council Tax, and its own help with them. One scheme of particular interest is the Lone Pensioner Allowance: at the time of writing (November 2026), nidirect describes it as a 20% discount on rates for people aged 70 or over who live alone (with some exceptions, for example if you live with a carer). It is not means-tested. Homeowners apply to Land and Property Services and tenants to the Housing Executive; see Lone Pensioner Allowance on nidirect.
Common reasons people miss out
- Not telling the council after a bereavement. The single person discount is not applied until you ask.
- Assuming homeowners cannot claim. Council Tax Reduction is open to owners and tenants alike.
- Not knowing about the dementia-related discount. Many families only hear of the severe mental impairment discount years after a diagnosis. Ask the council whether it can be backdated.
- Thinking adaptations do not count. A downstairs wet room or space kept clear for a wheelchair may be enough for the band reduction.
- Not claiming Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance. Both can increase the help you get. See our Attendance Allowance guide.
If you are struggling to pay
Contact your council early. Councils can agree a different payment pattern, and each has some discretion to reduce a bill in cases of hardship. Citizens Advice can help you work out what to ask for. Our benefits checklist lists the other help to check at the same time.
Common questions
Is there a Council Tax discount just for being over State Pension age?
No. There is no automatic age-based discount in England, Scotland or Wales. The help comes through Council Tax Reduction (based on income) or the discounts above (based on who lives in the home).
My wife has moved permanently into a care home. Do I pay less?
If you are now the only adult living in the home, you should qualify for the 25% single person discount. Tell your council.
Do I need to reapply every year?
Usually not, but you must tell the council if your circumstances change, and councils review awards from time to time.
Can I apply for a discount and Council Tax Reduction together?
Yes. They are separate, and you can ask for both at once.