Can I get money off Council Tax if I live alone?

How the council counts adults

A full Council Tax bill assumes at least 2 adults live in the home. If fewer adults are counted, the bill goes down. That is why living alone gets money off.

Some adults are "disregarded". This means the council does not count them, even though they live with you.

Conditions for the 25% discount

You can get 25% off if you pay Council Tax and either:

• you live on your own, or
• everyone else in your home is disregarded.

If everyone in the home is disregarded, including you, the discount is 50%.

Who is not counted (disregarded)

Special cases

• A grown-up child at university. If your child is a full-time student, they are not counted. You can still get 25% off.
• Living with a carer. A live-in carer who is not your partner or child under 18 is not counted, so you may still get the discount.
• Your partner moves out. If you are now the only adult, you can apply for the discount.
• A lodger or adult child who works. They count as an adult, so you would not get the single person discount.

How to check and apply

1. Check who in your home counts as an adult, using the table above.
2. Apply to your local council. The discount is not automatic, even if you qualify.
3. Tell the council straight away if things change, such as someone moving in. If you get a discount you are not entitled to, you could be fined and asked to pay it back.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Wales: the Welsh Government is reviewing Council Tax discounts and has decided to keep the 25% single adult discount. School leavers under 20 and care leavers aged 18 to 24 can also be disregarded or get help.
• Scotland: a single person discount is available if you are the only adult. Scotland also disregards care leavers under 26 and school leavers under 20, among others.
• Northern Ireland: there is no Council Tax, so there is no single person discount. If you are 70 or over and live alone, Lone Pensioner Allowance gives 20% off your rates.

Related guides

• Can I get help paying Council Tax on a low income?
• Who is exempt from Council Tax?
• Who pays council tax?
• Do students pay Council Tax?
• How do I pay my Council Tax?

Where this comes from

• How Council Tax works: who has to pay (GOV.UK)
• Council Tax: discounts for disabled people (GOV.UK)
• Find out about how we are reforming Council Tax (Welsh Government)
• Council Tax discounts, disregards, exemptions and reductions (Welsh Government)
• Council Tax discounts, exemptions and reductions (mygov.scot)
• Lone Pensioner Allowance (nidirect)