Council Tax Reduction Checker for Carers

Carers who live with someone on a qualifying disability benefit can often get a discount on council tax — sometimes 25% or more — that almost nobody claims. Three quick questions gives you a fast steer; add a couple more for a fuller picture.

What's a "disregard"?

It's not a direct discount — it's a counting trick. Councils base your bill on how many adults "count" as living in the property. A qualifying carer can be disregarded, meaning the council treats you as if you're not there when counting heads. Fewer counted adults means a bigger discount: often 25% off, and 50% (or even £0) if the person you care for is also disregarded, e.g. under the severe mental impairment rules.

Quick check

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Does the person you care for get Attendance Allowance, the daily living component of PIP, or the middle/higher care rate of DLA?

Yes

Not sure

QUESTION 2 OF 3

Do you live with the person you care for?

Yes

QUESTION 3 OF 3

Do you provide at least 35 hours of care a week, and are you NOT the husband, wife, civil partner, or parent of a child under 18 you care for?

Yes — both true

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Apply via your council →

A fuller picture

Apart from you and the person you care for, does anyone else over 18 live in the property? If a carer is "disregarded," the council often treats the household as if that adult isn't there for counting purposes — this affects whether a 25% single-occupier-style discount applies.

Which benefit does the person you care for get, exactly? In Scotland, Attendance Allowance and PIP daily living need to be at the higher/enhanced rate — check with your council if you're in Scotland.

Your detailed result

Fill in the fields above for tailored next steps.

Get a person involved

Apply to your council

Council Tax Reduction is run locally — apply directly
gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction

Turn2us benefits calculator

Checks council tax support alongside everything else
benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk

Citizens Advice

0800 144 8848 (England)
Council tax guidance →

Carers UK Helpline

0808 808 7777 · Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm
Council tax guidance →

Sources

Turn2us — Council Tax Discounts for Carers (qualifying benefits, hours, relationship exclusion)
Citizens Advice — Check if you can pay less council tax
Carers UK — Help with Council Tax (worked examples, single-person discount interaction)
Alzheimer's Society — Council tax discounts, disregards and exemptions (severe mental impairment disregard)
GOV.UK — Apply for Council Tax Reduction

Version 2.0 · Last updated 30 June 2026 · Rules correct as of 2026/27.

Independent tool. CarersInfo.com is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any local council, the Department for Work and Pensions, or gov.uk.

Not advice. Council Tax Reduction and the carer's disregard are administered locally — schemes, discount amounts, and exact rules vary by council, and Scotland applies slightly different qualifying rates to England and Wales. This tool gives a general steer based on the most common national rules, not a guaranteed outcome. Confirm with your own council before relying on the result.