Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults living in a property; however there are certain residents who are exempt from this.
If you are the only person living in a property, you can apply for a single person discount.
The following groups of people are not counted in the number of adults living at a property:
Apprentices and youth trainees
Care workers and unpaid carers
Person with severe mental impairment
Further disregard classes include:
- Care leavers
- Youth training trainees
- Patients in hospital or care homes
- Members of religious communities (e.g. monks and nuns)
- People aged over 18 and entitled to child benefit
- Members and dependants of visiting forces
- Persons with diplomatic privilege or immunity
- Members of international headquarters and defence organisations
- Persons residing in a hostel or night shelter
- Being housed under the Homes for Ukraine scheme
If you think you may qualify for one of these disregards, please contact us.
Revenues & Benefits
Tel: 01633 644630
Email: counciltax@monmouthshire.gov.uk
- Council tax discounts – single person
The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are 2 adults (aged 18 or over) living in a property.
If only one adult lives in the property the council tax bill is reduced by 25%. This is known as single person discount.
Apply for a council tax discount – single person (Link to form to follow)
You must inform us of any changes in your personal circumstances, living arrangements or financial/income situation which could affect your entitlement.
- Council tax discounts – apprentices and youth trainees
Who is an apprentice?
A person is considered an apprentice for the purposes of council tax if they are:
- Employed to learn a trade or profession, and
- Undertaking a training programme leading to a qualification accredited by a body recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) or the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SVEC), and
- Paid £195 or less a week but expected to be paid substantially more once qualified.
Who is a youth trainee?
A person is considered a youth trainee if they are:
- Under 25 years of age, and
- Receiving training through arrangements (made under the Employment and Training Act 1973) which constitute an approved training scheme for the purposes of Section 28 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992.
How much discount can you get?
Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults (people over 18) living in a property.
Youth trainees and apprentices do not count towards the number of adults considered to be living in a property.
This means if 2 adults live in a property and 1 of them is a youth trainee or apprentice, the bill will be worked out as if only 1 adult lives there. This would reduce the bill by 25%.
If the only person living in the property is a youth trainee or apprentice, the bill will be reduced by 50%.
Documents needed
Before applying for youth trainee or apprentice discount, you will need the following documents:
- For apprentices:
- a declaration from your employer of your Apprenticeship status.
- proof of earnings
- For youth trainees:
- proof of Youth Training Trainee status.
Apply for a council tax discount – apprentices and youth trainees (Link to form to follow)
- Council tax discounts – care workers and unpaid carers
Who is a care worker?
A person is considered a care worker for the purposes of council tax if they are:
- Engaged to provide care and support to a person on behalf of either a local authority or charitable body or employed by an individual to provide care and support services after being introduced through a local authority or charitable body.
- Employed to provide care for at least 24 hours a week.
- Paid no more than £44 per week.
- Living in a property provided either by the local authority or charitable body they are engaged by, or the person they provide care to.
Who is an unpaid carer?
A person is considered an unpaid carer for the purposes of council tax if they are.
- Living in the same home as the person they are caring for.
- Providing care for at least 35 hours per week.
- Is not a disqualified relative i.e. they are not the spouse or partner of the person they are caring for, neither are they a parent caring for a child under 18 years old.
The person being cared for must also be receiving one of the following benefits:
- An attendance allowance or,
- The highest or middle rate of the care component of disability living allowance or,
- An increase in the rate of disablement pension due to the need for constant attendance or,
- An increase in constant attendance allowance.
- The standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 s78(3)
- Armed forces independence payment under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces [Compensation Scheme] Order 2011.
How much discount can you get?
- Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults (people over 18 living) in a property.
- Care workers and unpaid carers do not count towards the number of adults considered to be living in a property.
- This means if 2 adults live in a property and 1 of them is a care worker or unpaid carer, the bill will be worked out as if only 1 adult lives there. This would reduce the bill by 25%.
- If the only person living in the property is a care worker or unpaid carer, the bill will be reduced by 50%.
Documents needed
Before applying for care worker discount, you will need the following documents:
- Proof of employment and copy of your payslip.
Before applying for unpaid carer discount, you will need the following documents:
- A copy of the benefit award letter showing the person being cared for receives one of the following qualifying benefits:
- The middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
- The daily living component of Personal Independence Payment at any rate.
- Attendance Allowance at any rate.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment.
- The highest rate of Constant Attendance Allowance.
Apply for a council tax discount – care workers and unpaid carers (Link to form to follow)
- Council tax discounts – person in detention
Who is a person in detention?
A person is considered in detention for the purposes of council tax if they are one or more of the following:
- Detained in prison, hospital or some other place by order of court.
- Detained pending deportation under the Immigration Act 1971.
- Detained in a place of safety under the Mental Health Act 1983.
How much discount can you get?
- Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults (people over 18) living in a property.
- People in detention do not count towards the number of adults considered to be living in a property.
- This means if 2 adults live in a property and 1 of them is in detention, the bill will be worked out as if only 1 adult lives there. This would reduce the bill by 25%.
- If the only person living in the property is in detention, a 100% exemption would be awarded.
Information needed to apply
During the application process you will be asked for the following details:
- Name and address of the establishment where the person was detained or is currently detailed.
- Prison service number if the person had been to a prison or is currently in a prison.
- Copy of the detention order (if available).
Apply for a council tax discount – person in detention (Link to form to follow)
(5) Council tax discounts – persons with severe mental impairment
Anyone who is medically certified as being Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI) may be eligible for a Council Tax exemption or discount. This means that the person will have a severe impairment of their intellectual and social functioning that appears to be permanent.
Conditions that can lead to severe mental impairment (SMI) include:
- Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Severe learning difficulties, or
- A stroke
Many other conditions may apply
To be eligible, the person must be diagnosed as SMI by a doctor and must also be entitled to a qualifying benefit.
How much discount can you get?
Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults (people over 18) living in a property.
People certified as Severely Mentally Impaired do not count towards the number of adults considered to be living in a property.
This means if 2 adults live in a property and 1 of them is a person with severe mental impairment, the bill will be worked out as if only 1 adult lives there. This would reduce the bill by 25%.
If the only person or all persons living in the property have severe mental impairment, they will be fully exempt from council tax.
Documents needed to apply
Before applying for a person with severe mental impairment discount, you will need the following documents:
- a signed medical certificate from a qualified medial professional confirming the following:
- Medical practitioner’s full name
- Medical practitioner’s full address
- Confirmation that the medical practitioner assesses in their opinion, the patient named in the application is suffering from a severe mental impairment that affects his or her social functioning as described in the Local Government Finance Act of 1992.
- The date the situation has applied from.
- proof that the person classed as severely mentally impaired is in receipt of at least one of the qualifying benefits listed below, or have been eligible for a qualifying benefit if they are of pension age:
- Incapacity Benefit or Employment Support Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement
- Unemployability Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- An increase in the rate of Disablement Pension for Constant Attendance
- Personal Standard or Enhanced Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Apply for a council tax discount – person with severe mental impairment (Link to form to follow)
(6) Council tax discounts – school or college leavers
Who is a school or college leaver?
A person is considered a school or college leaver for the purposes of council tax discount if they:
- Are 18 or 19 years old
- Have left a qualifying course of education between 30th April and 1st November
What is a qualifying course of education?
A person can apply for council tax discount if they have left a course of education that:
- Lasts for more than 3 months
- Requires a minimum of 12 hours attendance per week
- Is taught mostly face-to-face or online
- Is not taken through work or other office
- Normally happens between 8:00am and 5:30pm
How much discount can you get?
Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults (people over 18) living in a property.
School or college leavers do not count towards the number of adults considered to be living in a property.
This means if 2 adults live in a property and 1 of them is a school or college leaver, the bill will be worked out as if only 1 adult lives there. This would reduce the bill by 25%.
If the only person living in the property is a school or college leaver, the bill will be reduced by 50%.
Information needed
Before applying for school or college leaver discount, you will need to provide the following information:
- Course title
- Student ID
- Name and address of the school or college.
Apply for a council tax discount – school or college leavers
(7) Council tax discounts – students and student nurses
Who is a student?
A person is considered a student if they are undertaking a full time course of education at a relevant educational establishment.
To be considered a student for the purposes of council tax, the course must:
- Last at least 1 academic year or calendar year
- Require attendance for at least 24 weeks in each academic or calendar year
- Require a minimum period of study of 21 hours per week (the emphasis is on study, not work experience)
If you study for a qualification up to A level and you are under 20, your course must:
- last at least 3 months
- involve at least 12 hours’ study per week
The study course and the qualification must be at the level of either Further Education or Higher Education.
Any period of work experience you undertake must not exceed 50% of the whole time spent on your course. Work experience includes any time spent at your place of employment where you are there as part of your course; or you are there to gain experience of that trade or profession.
Not all courses will be classed as full-time for council tax purposes. For example distance learning or evening classes may not be considered a full-time course. Also, any courses being undertaken as part of your job – such as a day release – will not count.
Non-British spouse or dependant of a full-time student
- If you have a non-British spouse or dependant living with you who is not a student, your student discount/exemption may still apply.
- They must have a visa which prevents them from taking paid employment or claiming benefits
Who is a student nurse?
- A person is considered a student nurse if they are on a course leading to registration on any of parts 1 to 6 or 8 of the Register maintained under section 10 of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979.
- Only those studying for their first inclusion on the Register will be entitled to discount.
- Students studying academic courses at university will be classed as students for council tax purposes.
How much discount can you get?
- Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults (people over 18) living in a property.
- Students and student nurses do not count towards the number of adults considered to be living in a property.
- This means if 2 adults live in a property and 1 of them is a student or student nurse, the bill will be worked out as if only 1 adult lives there. This would reduce the bill by 25%.
- If the property is solely occupied by students, then the property is exempt from council tax.
Documents needed to apply
Before applying for student or student nurse discount, you will need the following documents:
- For students: a student certificate. You can get a certificate from your college or university Registration Officer
- For student nurses: a letter of confirmation from your employer
Apply for a council tax discount – students and student nurses
Council tax exemptions – occupied homes
Properties may be exempt from council tax if one of the following applies.
- student halls of residence
- only occupied by students links takes you to (7) above
- UK armed forces accommodation
- visiting forces accommodation
- only occupied by school or college leavers link takes you to (6) above
- only occupied by persons aged under 18
- only occupied by the severely mentally impaired link takes you to (5) above
- main residence of person with diplomatic privilege/immunity
- a dwelling occupied by a care leaver aged 24 or under
- an annex to an occupied dwelling where the annex is occupied by a dependant relative
If you think you may qualify for one of these exemptions, please contact us.
Council tax exemptions – unoccupied homes
If a property is empty and contains no furniture it will be exempt from council tax for the first 6 months from the date it became unfurnished.
This date may be before you took over the property. This would mean you would only receive that part of the 6-month exempt period that applies to you.
Please contact us to check whether the property is still eligible for an exemption.
You can ask for a council tax exemption if the property is:
- Undergoing major repairs or structural changes
- Empty and owned by a charity
- Substantially unfurnished and empty for less than six months
- Tenant detained in a prison, hospital or other place of court ordered detention ( link to form to follow)
- Person gone to live in a residential care or mental nursing home, including hostels
- Council taxpayer deceased
- Held for a minister of religion
- Person living elsewhere to receive or provide personal care
- Left empty by a student
- Empty annex to an occupied building
- Occupation prohibited by law or an act of parliament
- Mortgagee in possession
- Left empty by a bankrupt person
- Empty caravan pitch or boat mooring
If you think you may qualify for one of these exemptions, please contact us.
Council tax reduction
You could be eligible for a reduction in council tax if you have a low income, claim Universal Credit, or are in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- You can complete our short form to claim your council tax reduction
You will not be eligible if you and or a partner have savings, investments or property worth more than £16,000.
Apply for a council tax reduction
Disability Reduction
Disabled people who require additional space may be eligible for a council tax reduction.
If your home is eligible, your bill will be lowered to the valuation band below. If your home is in the lowest band (Band A) we will reduce your bill by one sixth. You can find out more about valuation bands on our Council Tax banding page. Link to Finding out more about your Council Tax band section below
This will not affect the value of your home, or its banding on the valuation list.
Who can apply?
The disabled person does not have to be the person who pays the council tax, it can be any member of the household, including a child.
To receive this relief, a disabled person is ‘substantially and permanently disabled’ by illness, injury or congenital deformity or other reason. Some conditions are progressive, and, in such cases, a judgement will need to be made when a disability becomes substantial.
Discount conditions
A room predominantly used by a disabled person other than a bathroom, kitchen, or toilet
The fact that a disabled person uses a room will not on its own lead to a reduction. Everyone needs somewhere to sleep, eat, live, etc but sometimes there must be a room specially to meet the needs of a disabled person. The room can either be an existing room or an additional room/extension, but there must be a causal link between the person’s disability and the use of the room.
The room must be of major importance to the disabled person’s wellbeing due to the extent of their disability. If the room or feature were not available, would it be physically impossible or extremely difficult to live in the property and would their health suffer, or the disability become more severe.
Another bathroom or kitchen for the use of the disabled person.
The fact that a property has a second bathroom or kitchen will not lead to a reduction unless it is essential to meeting the needs of the disabled persons. A second lavatory is not treated as a bathroom.
Need to use a wheelchair indoors.
A person who normally uses a wheelchair but cannot do so indoors will not qualify. Neither is storage of a wheelchair indoors sufficient to qualify.