Council tax reduction (CTR)
The council tax reduction (CTR) scheme can provide help with your council tax bill if you are on a low income.
About the scheme
The Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme started in April 2013. The scheme replaced the Council Tax Benefit scheme and is different because it works by calculating a reduction to your council tax bill, instead of awarding a benefit payment.
For more information, you can download a copy of the full Council Tax Reduction Scheme, available in the downloads section of this page.
Use the benefits calculator to find out if you qualify. The calculator can be used to assess entitlement to housing benefit and council tax reduction. It is only an estimate based on the information you supply.
If you believe you qualify for a CTR, you can make a claim online.
CTR - make a claim (opens new window)
At the completion of the e-form, you will be presented with a page that asks you to provide us with evidence to support your new claim. A full list of documents we may ask you for can be found in our evidence factsheet. Any delay in providing the evidence we ask for will delay your payment.
You can provide your evidence by email, or by post.
You must include your claim reference number or National Insurance number.
Email your scanned documents to benefits@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window). Any attachments should total less than 10mb in size.
Post
Wiltshire Council
Revenues and Benefits
Monkton Park
Chippenham
SN15 1ER
If you are already claiming Universal Credit, you should indicate on the online Universal Credit claim that you intend to apply for CTR. The Department for Work and Pensions should then share your data with the council to allow your CTR to be calculated.
If you are unable to make a claim using the e-form, we can also accept telephone claims, please contact us on 0300 456 0110 to make a claim.
Tell us immediately if something changes
If there are any changes in your household or personal circumstances after you make an application for housing benefit and/or council tax reduction, you must let us know immediately. Don't rely on someone else to tell us.
How to tell us about a change
The easiest way to let us know is to phone us on 0300 456 0110 and tell us what has changed. We will then be able to tell you if we need you to send us evidence of the change, or we might be able to change your claim without you needing to do anything else. If you are unable to phone us, see other ways you can contact us - see below.
Providing proof there has been a change
When reporting a change of circumstance, you may need to provide proof of the change and when it happened. You can do this by email, or by post.
You must include your claim reference number or National Insurance number.
Email your scanned documents to benefits@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window). Any attachments should total less than 10mb in size.
Post
Wiltshire Council
Revenues and Benefits
Monkton Park
Chippenham
SN15 1ER
Frequently asked questions
The amount of reduction you receive depends on your council tax band and will be worked out by comparing your household's actual income with a basic amount (known as the applicable amount) set by the government. Where income is below the applicable amount, the highest amount of council tax reduction will be awarded. As income rises above the applicable amount, so the level of benefit /reduction falls.
Non-dependent deduction
In households where there are working age children or relatives a (non-dependent), a fixed reduction will be made for each non-dependent. To find out the current rate, refer to the full scheme.
If you are of pension credit age, you may receive help with all or some of your council tax, depending on your income and personal circumstances.
If you are of working age but considered protected, you may receive help with all or some of your council tax, depending on your income and personal circumstances. To be considered protected, you must be receiving one or more of the following income: War Disablement Pension, War Widows Pension, Disability Living Allowance - any rate or component type or Personal Independence Payment - any rate or component type.
If you are of working age and not considered protected, your council tax reduction will be based on 80% of your council tax liability. This means you will still have to pay at least 20% of the council tax charge, even if you are on a low income or receiving benefits.
If you are of working age, (regardless of whether you are protected or not) you will not be eligible to claim council tax reduction should you have savings or capital of £10,000 or more.
If you are of pension credit age, you will not be eligible to claim council tax reduction if you have savings or capital of £16,000 or more.
If you disagree with a decision about your council tax reduction (CTR) claim, you can request more information about the decision or appeal.
I don't understand the decision
When we have dealt with your claim for CTR, we will send you a decision letter. This letter will explain the information we have used to work out your reduction. You should check the letter carefully. If you do not understand the decision and want it explained, please contact us straight away.
I'm not happy with the decision
If you are unhappy with the decision, you must write to us within one month asking for it to be looked at again. This is called a reconsideration. When you write to us, you must tell us:
- your full name and address.
- the address that the appeal relates to.
- the grounds on which you are unhappy with the decision.
- reasons why you consider that the decision or calculation made by the council was incorrect.
We will look at your claim and advise you in writing of the outcome within one month of receiving your request for reconsideration. If the decision is not changed in your favour, you will have the right to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England within two months of the date of the reconsideration.
I want to appeal
If you want to appeal, you must contact the Valuation Tribunal for England (opens new window).
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