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