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Discounts

The full Council Tax is payable where there are two adults living in a property. The bill is not increased if there are more than two adults.

Your bill will be reduced by a quarter (25%) if there is only one adult living in the property as their main home and by half (50%) if no one lives there. This discount is not based on your income.

People who meet the following criteria will not be counted when the bill is calculated.

This can apply to empty dwellings and second homes. Some people are not included when counting the number of adults resident in a dwelling providing they meet the following conditions:

No.	Applies to
1	full-time students, non-British spouses/dependants of students, student nurses, apprentices and Youth Training trainees
2	patients resident in hospital
3	people who are being looked after in care homes
4	people who are severely mentally impaired
5	people staying in certain hostels or night shelters
6	18 and 19 year olds who are at or have just left school
7	care workers working for low pay, usually for charities
8	people caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner, or child under 18
9	members of visiting overseas forces and certain international institutions
10	members of religious communities (monks and nuns)
11	people in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine)
12	diplomats and members of international organisations with headquarters in the UK

If you think you may be entitled to a discount and this is not shown on your bill, you should contact the Revenues Section (01527 534040).

If your bill shows that an exemption or discount has been allowed and your circumstances have changed, please let us know straightaway.

Please Note:

If you don't you could be liable to pay a penalty of £70. If you continue to fail to provide the correct information, you may be liable to pay a further penalty of £280.

People With Disabilities

Your bill may be reduced if your home has certain features which are essential or of major importance, to the well being of a person with a disability. These are:

a room used mainly by the person with the disability
an additional bathroom or kitchen for the use of the person with the disability
extra space inside a property to allow for the use of a wheelchair

If you qualify your bill will be reduced to that of a property in the valuation band immediately below the band you are actually in. If you are currently in a Band A property then your bill will be reduced by 1/9th of the amount set for a Band D property.

These reductions ensure that people with disabilities do not pay more tax on account of space needed because of disability. You can now apply for this reduction by either completing the appropriate form or by telephoning us to arrange a visit to see if you qualify.

For more information contact the Revenues Section (01527 534040).

Council Tax Benefit

Do you need help to pay your Council Tax Bill?

Council Tax benefit ensures that most householders on a low income or State Benefit pay little or no Council Tax.

The amount of Benefit received depends on your Council Tax Band. the level of your income, the size of your family, any savings/investments that you have, and if there are any non dependants (people aged 18 or over) living in your property. Outgoings such as mortgage payments are not taken into account, but child minding charges may be disregarded in same cases.

(1) In your own right.

The benefit is calculated on your income and that of any partner. Deductions are made if other people such as sons, daughters over the age of 18 live with you.

(2) On the basis of the circumstances of any second adult (but not a partner or spouse) living with you.

Generally only a single liable person (that is someone without a partner or spouse) will qualify for this type of benefit which is known as 'second adult rebate'. For example if you are a single parent, with children over the age of 18 on Income Support or on a low income, you may be able to claim

Many people lose benefit because they delay making a claim. Benefit cannot normally be backdated so don't delay, complete an application form today. Email us to get the form sent out to you.

To help us work out how much benefit you may get, you must now give us original documents with your claim form. Copies will no longer be accepted. Also, when you make a claim, you will need to provide us with proof of your identity.

A leaflet giving more information about this is available from the Town Hall.

Appeals

About Valuation Bands

All Council Tax valuations are based on the price a property would have fetched if it had been sold on 1st April 1991. Any increase or fall in a dwelling's value which results from general changes in the housing market since then will not affect your Council Tax band.

However you can appeal if:

there is a material increase or reduction in the value of the dwelling or
you start or stop using part of the dwelling for business or
you have just moved (you must appeal within six months of your move) or
the Listing Officer alters the Band

Please note the Listing Officer can increase your band if an error has been made. If you think your band is too low you may wish to contact him.

About Liability to Pay

You may also appeal if you consider that you are not liable to pay Council Tax, for example, because you are not the resident or owner, or because your property is exempt, or that we have made a mistake in calculating your bill. If you wish to appeal on these grounds, you must first notify us and we will review the situation.

Making an appeal does not allow you to withhold payment of tax owing in the meantime. If your appeal is successful you will be entitled to a refund of any overpaid tax.

If you make an appeal and you are still not satisfied that a proper decision has been reached (or you are not notified of a decision within 2 months of making your appeal), you can then appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Details are available on request from the Revenue Section (01527 534040).

Redditch Borough Council

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Discounts

People With Disabilities

Council Tax Benefit

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