Disregard Discounts

Disregard Discounts

• when all but one adult is disregarded there is a 25% discount  
• where all the adults are disregarded there is a 50% discount
• in some circumstances a full exemption may be applicable 

Listed below are the types of people who are not counted:

Students

• lasts at least one academic or calendar year
• takes at least 24 weeks a year (this may include work experience)
• involves at least 21 hours of study per week during term-time

*Note - from 13 May 2011 anyone who has their sole or main residence in England or Wales and is undertaking a full-time course (as defined above) at an educational establishment in any Member State of the European Union, may qualify as a student for Council Tax purposes.

•  on a qualifying course
•  at least 3 months duration
•  at least 12 hours per week of study
•  leads to any qualification up to A level, ONC or OND standard (i.e. further education)

  or 

• a student nurse in full-time education studying an academic course

or

• a foreign language assistant registered with the Central Bureau of Educational Visits and Exchanges.

Student nurses

• on a part time course leading to registration under the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979. Student nurses in full time education should apply for the student disregard below.

Student nurses application form (PDF format, link opens in new window)

Apprentices

• employed to learn a job and undertaking training leading to a qualification recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
• not paid more than £195 weekly (gross)

School and college leavers

• under 20 and was on a course of full-time education or a qualifying course which they finished/left after 30th April, this discount lasts up to the 1 November of the same year

School and college leavers application form (PDF format, link opens in new window)

Youth training trainees

• under 25
• receiving training in line with an individual training plan under the Youth Training Scheme, such as TCT, Options, Future and Next Step.

Persons for whom child benefit is payable

• someone for whom another person receives child benefit

Carers

• employed as a carer by an organisation such as community service volunteers, by a public body or by the person being cared for, if introduced to that person by a charitable body. Living in accommodation provided by/on behalf of the relevant body or employer in order to provide care for at least 24 hours per week and paid no more than £44 per week 
• employed to provide care for at least 24 hours per week and paid no more than £44 per week

• living with and caring for someone with a disability who is not his/her spouse/partner or child under 18 but is in receipt of a qualifying benefit
• providing care for at least 35 hours per week on average

Careworkers application form (PDF format, link opens in new window)

Person receiving care

• is living in a nursing home, residential care home, or a National Health Service or military hospital
• are receiving care and/or treatment there

Patients in care homes, nursing homes and hostels

• living in one of the above and receiving care

Nursing homes and residential care homes application form (PDF format, link opens in new window)

Severely mentally impaired persons

• a person is severely mentally impaired when they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent and 
• certified as severely mentally impaired by a registered medical practitioner and
• in receipt of one of a number of 'qualifying benefits'

Severely mentally impaired persons application form (PDF format, link opens in new window)

Foreign spouses of students

• the spouse or dependant of a student whom is not a British citizen and is prevented from taking paid employment or from claiming benefits

Please contact us for further information.

People staying in certain hostels or night shelters

• properties such as short-stay hostels or night shelters

Members of religious communities

• a religious community, whose main work is prayer, contemplation, the relief of suffering, education or any combination of these members are dependent on the community for their material needs, having no personal income, other than a pension from a former employer, or capital

Members of religious communities application form (PDF format, link opens in new window)

Members of visiting forces, international HQs and defence organisations

• one of the above or
• his/her dependant who are also not a British citizen or not normally resident in the U.K.

Persons in detention

• detained in prison
• detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act