Council Tax

The following discounts are available for qualifying households:

There are also:

Single adult occupiers

A discount of 25 per cent can be applied to the council tax bill of a household where there is only one adult occupier 18 years of age or more.

If someone is working away from home or on holiday, it will not usually count as a change of residency and a discount cannot normally be applied if just one person remains in the household in such circumstances.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page or complete a claim form online.

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Apprentices

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is an apprentice. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. To qualify as an apprentice a person must be:

• employed for the purpose of learning a trade, business, profession, office, employment or vocation;
• for that purpose, undertaking a programme of training leading to a qualification accredited by the National Council for Vocational Qualification or the Scottish Vocational Education Council;
• employed for a total salary or allowance (or both) substantially less than the salary he or she would be likely to receive if he or she had achieved the qualification in question and no more than £196 per week.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page.

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18-year-olds eligible for child benefit

When deciding the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is over 18 years old and entitled to have child benefit claimed for them. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. To qualify under this disregard:

• the person must have reached the age of 18 years and
• another person must be entitled to claim child benefit for them.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page.

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Carers

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is a carer. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply.

Carers will only qualify if they are providing either:

• care or support on behalf of the Crown, a charity or are employed by the person for whom care is provided, were introduced to them by a charity and are employed to provide care for at least 24 hours a week, being paid no more than £44 per week and are resident in premises provided by the body they are employed by or
• care for a person receiving the higher rate of attendance allowance or equivalent and live at the same address as the person receiving care, providing care for at least 35 hours a week and are not the husband, wife, civil partner or parent (if the person receiving care is under 18 years old) of the person receiving care.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page.

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Severely mentally impaired people

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is severely mentally impaired. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. To qualify as severely mentally impaired for this purpose, a person must be:

• confirmed as severely mentally impaired by a registered medical practitioner;
• receiving one of a number of certain qualifying benefits.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page. The council will need to contact your doctor for confirmation.

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People in detention

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is a prisoner in detention. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. Detention for non-payment of fines or council tax is not a valid reason for claiming this reduction. If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page. The council will need to contact the place of detention for confirmation.

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School leavers

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is a school leaver. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. To qualify as a school leaver, the person must:

• be under the age of 20 years and
• have finished a qualifying course of education within the period after 30 April and before 1 November in the year to which the application relates.

Where both of the above apply, the person will be disregarded for council tax purposes until 1 November of the same year.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page or complete a claim form online. The council may contact the educational establishment for confirmation of the details supplied.

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Students

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is a student. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. To qualify as a student for the purpose of council tax, a person must be either:

• attending a full-time course of higher education at a university, college or other prescribed educational establishment: the course must last at least one year and involve at least 21 hours' attendance per week for at least 24 weeks in the year or
• under 20 years of age and attending a course which lasts more than three calendar months and involves at least 12 hours' attendance per week: the course must not be undertaken by correspondence or in consequence of the person’s job, nor must it be a course of higher education.

In addition, the person must supply a council tax certificate issued by the college or university. Please note that a certificate of enrolment or a notification of grant award letter is not acceptable.

The following are available if:

• all residents are students - exemption from council tax;
• all but one resident is a student - a 25 per cent discount for the household;
• the property is owned by a student and was last occupied by that student, exemption from council tax.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page.

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Youth trainees

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is a youth trainee. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. To qualify as a youth trainee a person must be:

• under the age of 25 years and
• be training under a youth training arrangement.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page.

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Long-term in-patients and care home residents

When determining the number of residents in a property for the purpose of council tax, a person can be disregarded if he or she is in hospital as a long-term in-patient or living in a care home. If the number of adult occupants who are not disregarded is either one or none, a discount can apply. To qualify for this discount a person must:

• have their sole or main residence in a residential care home, a nursing home, a mental nursing home, a hostel or a hospital: the term sole or main residence is not defined in council tax legislation, although case law on the subject suggests that temporary absence from home does not constitute a change of residency;
• be receiving care or treatment.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a discount, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page or complete a claim form online. The council will also obtain details of residency from the appropriate care home or hospital.

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Reductions for disabled people

If there is a disabled person living in the property, you may be able to claim a reduction in the amount of council tax that they pay. If certain conditions are met, the council tax bill could be reduced to that of a property in the next lowest band. Since 1 April 2000, an equivalent discount is also available for homes in band A. For a reduction to be made:

• the disabled person must live in the property but does not have to be the person liable to pay the council tax bill;
• must use a wheelchair or a second bathroom or kitchen or an additional room in the property: this room must be essential or of major importance to the well-being of the disabled person because of the nature or extent of his or her disability.

If you believe that you may be entitled to a reduction, please contact Medway Revenues and Benefits Service using the details at the foot of this page or complete a claim form online. Once the completed form has been received, the council will contact you to arrange a convenient time for a home visit. The council will consider whether your home meets the above conditions and then advise you of its decision as to whether or not a reduction applies.

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