Council Tax Reduction: Check Your 2026–27 Support

Households in England, Scotland and Wales should check their council’s current Council Tax Reduction rules, award notice and payment schedule for 2026–27. Support is administered locally, so last year’s award may not tell you what you will receive this year. No specific change should be assumed without a notice from your council.

Your council sets the local rules

Council Tax Reduction, also called Council Tax Support in some areas, can reduce a council tax bill for people on a low income. The scheme and eligibility rules depend on where you live, and differ across the UK’s nations and between councils. Applications go to the relevant local council, according to GOV.UK.

Start with the council responsible for the address on your bill. Check its published scheme for 2026–27 and compare it with your latest award notice. The notice should explain the support awarded and how it affects your bill; check the bill or council account for payment dates and amounts.

Check your award and household details

Review the details your council used to assess your claim. Relevant circumstances can include household income, benefits, who lives with you, and changes in work or housing. The rules and how a change affects support vary by council, so check the scheme or ask the council before assuming the award will stay the same.

Look for:

• the assessment period and award dates;
• the amount of reduction and the council tax balance left to pay;
• any instalment dates or revised payment schedule;
• instructions for reporting changes and asking for a review.

If you cannot find a 2026–27 scheme or a new award notice, contact your council using the details on your bill. Ask whether your current award has been reassessed and whether you should continue paying the amount shown on your existing schedule while you wait.

Report a change or challenge a decision

Tell your council promptly if information relevant to your claim changes. Use its online Council Tax Reduction account or the contact route listed on your award notice. Give the date of the change and provide any evidence the council requests. Keep a copy of what you submit and note when you sent it.

If you think the decision is wrong, follow the review or appeal instructions on the notice and meet any stated deadline. If the route is unclear, ask the council how to request a review. Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service may help you understand the decision and prepare your case.

For a current answer, use the scheme and notice issued by the council for your address. A published 2026–27 notice from your council is the relevant basis for local eligibility or payment claims; general UK guidance cannot confirm what an individual household will receive.

Source: GOV.UK