Council Tax reduction applicable amounts
Last Updated: 3 April 2024
Applicable amounts are the amounts that the Government considers certain categories of people need to live on each week.
Applicable amounts consist of personal allowances and in certain cases Premiums.
Applicable amount: personal allowances
| Circumstances | Weekly allowance (£) |
|---|---|
| Aged less than 25 | 61.05 |
| Aged 25 or over | 77.00 |
| Any age and entitled to main phase Employment Support allowance | 77.00 |
| Of pensionable age before 1 April 2021* | 197.10 |
| Of pensionable age after 1 April 2021* | 182.60 |
| Circumstances | Weekly allowance (£) |
|---|---|
| Aged less than 18 | 61.05 |
| Aged 18 or over | 77.00 |
| Any age and entitled to main phase Employment Support allowance | 77.00 |
| Of pensionable age before 1 April 2021* | 197.10 |
| Of pensionable age after 1 April 2021* | 182.60 |
| Circumstances | Weekly allowance (£) |
|---|---|
| Both under 18 | 92.20 |
| At least one aged 18 | 121.05 |
| Any age and entitled to main phase Employment Support allowance | 121.05 |
| At least one member of pensionable age before 1 April 2021* | 294.90 |
| At least one member of pensionable age after 1 April 2021* | 278.70 |
* Please note that these ages are a guide only. To qualify for the higher premiums you must have reached the qualifying age to claim State Pension Credit.
| Circumstances | Weekly allowance (£) |
|---|---|
| From birth to under 20 and child benefit payable and in respect of | 70.80 |
**Please note that for new claims to Housing Benefit you may only receive a maximum of two allowances for children, even if you have more than two children.
If you are on Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (income based), Guarantee Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (income related), or if your income is below the applicable amount it is likely that you will receive 100% Benefit on your eligible rent and your Council Tax bill reduced to nil.
| Premium | Weekly allowance (£) |
|---|---|
| Family Premium (claimants with children and a live claim prior to 1 May 2016) | 17.85 |
| Family Premium (lone parent) protected for certain claimants | 22.20 |
| Family Premium new claims from 1 May 2016 | 0.00 |
| Disability Premium single | 36.20 |
| Disability Premium couple | 51.60 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium single/lone parent | 17.75 |
| Enhanced Disability Premium couple | 25.35 |
| Enhanced Disability child | 27.44 |
| Severe Disability Premium single | 69.40 |
| Severe Disability Premium couple, one qualifies | 69.40 |
| Severe Disability Premium couple, both qualify | 138.80 |
| Carer Premium | 38.85 |
| Disabled Child Premium | 68.04 |
Family Premium
Applied if you have at least one child for Council Tax Reduction.
Family Premium (lone parent rate)
Applied if you are a lone parent and have at least one child but you must have been continuously in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit since 31 March 1998. New claims from 1 April 1998 to 30 April 2016 are worked out using the standard family premium. For Housing Benefit claims made from 1 May 2016 no family premium applies.
Disabled Child Premium
Applied where Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments are being paid for a child or where a child is registered or certified blind
Severe Disability Premium
Applied if you:
- receive the highest or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments
- do not have any non-dependants living with you or they are under 18 or is disabled and receives Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance or the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments
- no one is receiving Carer's Allowance or the care element of Universal Credit (Housing Benefit only) for looking after you or your partner
Special rules apply to couples and to get the higher rate, both members or the couple must satisfy all the criteria.
Carer Premium
Applied if you or you partner receives Carer's Allowance.
Disability Premium
Applied if you or your partner are under the qualifying age for state Pension credit and are registered or certified blind or receive one of the following Benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance
- the disability element of Working Tax Credit
- Attendance Allowance
- Mobility Benefits
- Incapacity Benefit
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
or if you are sick and have been unable to work for at least 52 weeks.
Enhanced Disability Premium
Applied if you or a member of your family is in receipt of the highest rate of care component of Disability Living Allowance or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments.