Can carers get a Council Tax discount?

For unpaid and live-in carers, and the people they care for.

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

A live-in carer is not counted for Council Tax if they meet set conditions, which can cut the household bill.

You live with the person and care for them at least 35 hours a week on average.
They get a qualifying benefit, such as Attendance Allowance, the middle or highest care rate of DLA, or the daily living part of PIP.
You are not their partner, spouse, or parent of a child under 18.
If you move out to care for someone, your empty home can be exempt.

Different in Scotland

Scotland: live-in carers can also be left out of the count. Ask your council.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

At least 35 hours a week
Person cared for gets AA, DLA or PIP
Not a partner or parent of a child
25% or 50% off the bill

How the carer rule works

A full Council Tax bill assumes 2 or more adults live in a home. Some people are "disregarded", meaning they are not counted. A carer who lives with the person they look after can be one of them. Being disregarded is not a direct payment to the carer, but it can cut the household bill.

Conditions for a live-in carer (England and Wales)

You must meet all of these:

You live in the same home as the person you care for.
You care for them for at least 35 hours a week on average.
You are not their partner, husband, wife or civil partner, and you are not the parent of a child under 18 that you care for.
The person you care for gets one of these benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate
- Personal Independence Payment daily living part (standard or enhanced rate)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance, or certain increases to a disablement pension

Who cannot get it

Partners and spouses caring for each other
Parents caring for their own child under 18
Carers who do not live with the person
Carers who give fewer than 35 hours of care a week

How much the bill drops

Who lives in the home	Discount
The person cared for, plus you as the carer	25% off
Only people who are not counted	50% off
Two or more counted adults, plus you	No discount

Example. Dan, 45, lives with his dad and cares for him 40 hours a week. His dad gets Attendance Allowance. Dan is not counted, so his dad is the only adult counted, and the bill gets 25% off. On a £2,000 bill, that saves £500.

Special cases

Paid care workers. Some live-in care workers are also not counted. They must be placed by a charity, council or similar body, work at least 24 hours a week, be paid no more than £44 a week, and live in housing provided by that body.
Moving out to care. If you leave your own home empty to give live-in care to someone, your empty home can be exempt.
Severe mental impairment. If the person you care for is severely mentally impaired, they may also be disregarded, which can give a bigger discount.
Low income. You may also get Council Tax Reduction.

How to check and apply

Find your council with GOV.UK's postcode tool and apply for the discount. You may need proof of the benefit the person you care for gets, such as an award letter.

If you live in Scotland or Wales

Wales: the same 35 hours and benefit conditions apply. The Welsh Government lists the discount as 50% if everyone else is disregarded, 25% with one counted adult, and none with 2 or more.
Scotland: mygov.scot says live-in carers can be left out of the count if they care for someone who is not their partner, spouse or child under 18.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

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

Find your council's discount page

Common questions

I care for my mum who gets Attendance Allowance. Can we get a discount?

If you live with her, care for at least 35 hours a week and she is the only other adult, you are not counted, so she can get 25% off as if she lived alone.

Does a carer for a husband or wife qualify?

No. You cannot be disregarded as a carer for your partner, spouse or civil partner.

Does Carer's Allowance matter for this discount?

The rules look at the benefit the person you care for gets, such as Attendance Allowance, DLA or PIP.

Official sources

1.Council Tax: who has to paywww.gov.uk/council-tax/who-has-to-pay
2.Council Tax (Additional Provisions for Discount Disregards) Regulations 1992, schedulewww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/552/schedule
3.Paying the right level of Council Tax: a plain English guidewww.gov.uk/government/publications/paying-the-right-level-of-council-tax-a-plain-english-guide-to-council-tax/paying-the-right-level-of-council-tax-a-plain-english-guide-to-council-tax
4.Council Tax discounts, exemptions and reductions (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/council-tax/discounts-exemptions-and-reductions

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

Ask about your situation

Please don't include your name, address, National Insurance number or health details. See our privacy notice.