Help paying your council tax

You may get help to pay your council tax (but not your water and waste water charges) depending on your household income and circumstances.

• Council Tax Reduction is help towards the council tax bill for your home.
• Second Adult Reduction is help if you have someone else living with you, not a partner, who is not responsible for paying council tax and is based on their income and circumstances.
• Enhanced Council Tax Reduction, from 01 April 2017 you can apply for protection from the increased charge if your property is in a band E to H. You may qualify if you have less than £16,000 in savings/capital and your average weekly net income is less than £321, if you are a single person with no children, or £479 for other households.

If you claim Universal Credit and have a Council Tax account with us, you can complete the application to claim Council Tax Reduction and Discretionary Housing Payment if you have rent to pay. Complete the Apply for benefits for Universal Credit Claimants who Receive Housing Costs form below.

If you claim Council Tax Reduction and Second Adult Reduction, we will pay the higher of the 2 available reductions.

You can also receive help to pay rent by applying for Housing Benefit. If you are not already getting help and want to apply, please complete the Apply for benefits form.

If you do not receive Universal Credit and have a Council Tax account with us, you can complete the application to claim Council Tax Reduction and Discretionary Housing Payment if you have rent to pay. Complete the Apply for Benefits form below.

It may take around 30 minutes to fill in this form so we recommend you register and log into My Falkirk first. This will allow you to save the form and come back to it later.

Any reduction you get will be shown on your council tax bill. A reduction in your bill will normally start from the Monday following the date you contacted us to apply, or the Monday following the date we received your application, whichever is earlier.

In most cases we are unable to backdate reductions, so the sooner you contact us the sooner you can get help to pay your council tax.

You must tell us immediately if there is a change in your circumstances.

When you apply, you will need to give us:

• Proof of your identity from an original document.
• Details of all the people living with you.
• Details of all income, savings and state benefits you, your partner (if you have one) and any non dependants living with you get.

If you have over £16,000 in savings, you will not be entitled to help unless you receive the guaranteed part of Pension Credit.

If you are under pension age, we ignore the first £6,000 of your savings. For every £250 you have over that amount, we count £1 per week as income.

If you are of pension age, we ignore the first £10,000 of your savings. For every £500 you have over that amount, we count £1 per week as income.

Change in circumstances - Housing Benefit & Council Tax Reduction claimants only

If you receive Housing Benefit (HB) or Council Tax Reduction (CTR) and there has been a change to your circumstances, please complete a change in circumstances form:

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Frequently asked questions