Do care leavers pay Council Tax?

For young people who have left local authority care.

Applies to: Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

In Wales and Scotland, young care leavers get national help with Council Tax.

Wales: care leavers aged 18 to under 25 are exempt if they live alone, or only with other care leavers, full-time students or people with a significant cognitive impairment.
Wales: if a care leaver lives with one other adult who counts, the household gets 25% off.
Scotland: a care leaver under 26 is not counted as an adult for Council Tax.

Different in England

England: care leavers are not on GOV.UK's national list of people who are not counted, so ask your council what help it offers.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Wales: exempt aged 18 to under 25
Scotland: not counted under 26
England: ask your council
Apply to your council

Why care leavers can pay less

Council Tax is usually paid by adults who live in a home. Some groups are not counted, or their home is exempt, so the bill is smaller or there is nothing to pay. Wales and Scotland have national rules for young care leavers. England does not have a national rule listed on GOV.UK.

The rules in each nation

Nation	Age	What you get
Wales	18 to under 25	Exempt in some living situations, or 25% off
Scotland	Under 26	Not counted as an adult
England	Any	No national rule on GOV.UK, so ask your council

Wales in detail

If you are a care leaver aged 18 to under 25 and live in Wales, your home is exempt (nothing to pay) if you live:

on your own, or
only with other care leavers, or
only with full-time students, or
only with people who have a significant cognitive impairment.

If you live with one other adult who is counted, the household gets 25% off. This is like the single person discount.

Scotland in detail

mygov.scot says a care leaver under 26 is not counted as an adult for Council Tax. This works like other people who are not counted. For example, if you live with one adult who is counted, the household can get the single person discount (25% off). Ask your council how it applies to your home.

England

GOV.UK's list of people who are not counted for Council Tax includes under 18s, full-time students, some apprentices and some carers. It does not include care leavers. Ask your council's Council Tax team, or your personal adviser, what help is available where you live.

Whatever nation you live in, you can also apply for Council Tax Reduction if you are on a low income or get benefits.

Examples

Example 1 (Wales). Jade is 20, left care at 18 and rents a flat alone in Cardiff. Her home is exempt, so she pays no Council Tax.

Example 2 (Wales). Liam is 22, left care, and shares with his partner who works. His partner counts as an adult, so the household gets 25% off.

How to apply

Contact your local council's Council Tax team.
Tell them you are a care leaver and give your date of birth.
Send any proof they ask for.
Tell the council if your household changes, for example if someone moves in.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check the Wales care leavers rules

Common questions

I am a care leaver in Wales sharing with a friend who works. Do we pay?

If your friend counts as an adult and you are the only other person, the household gets 25% off the bill.

How do I apply?

Contact your local council's Council Tax team. In Wales, the Welsh Government says to contact your local authority.

Official sources

1.Council Tax discounts and reduction: care leavers (Wales)www.gov.wales/council-tax-discounts-and-reduction/care-leavers
2.Council Tax discounts, exemptions and reductions (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/council-tax/discounts-exemptions-and-reductions
3.Council Tax: who has to paywww.gov.uk/council-tax/who-has-to-pay

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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