Council Tax Discounts — 25% Off (and Bigger Reductions You're Missing)

Overview

Lots of households pay more Council Tax than they need to. If you live alone you get 25% off. Bigger reductions and exemptions apply for students, carers, and people with a "severe mental impairment" (such as dementia) — and these are often missed and can be backdated for hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

How to Claim

1. Click the link on this page for GOV.UK's Council Tax discounts overview.
2. Work out which discount applies — single person, full-time student, live-in carer, severe mental impairment, or a disabled-band reduction.
3. Apply through your local council's website (GOV.UK links you straight to it).
4. Ask about backdating — many discounts can be backdated to when you first became eligible.

Requirements

• Single-person discount: you're the only adult (18+) living in the home → 25% off.
• Severe mental impairment (SMI) disregard: a resident has a doctor-certified severe mental impairment and receives a qualifying benefit.
• Other disregards: full-time students, live-in carers and others may not be counted.

Important Terms

• Single-person discount is 25% off (around £600 a year on an average Band D bill in England for 2026/27).
• If everyone in the home is "disregarded", the bill can drop by 50% — and someone with a severe mental impairment who lives alone pays nothing.
• SMI and several other discounts can often be backdated — always ask your council.

Tips

• Moved in alone, or a partner moved out? Claim the single-person discount straight away.
• Caring for a relative with dementia or Alzheimer's? Check the SMI disregard — it's one of the most commonly missed and is backdatable.
• Council Tax Reduction (for low income) is separate and can be claimed on top.