Council Tax Carer Discount: Are You Entitled to a Reduction in 2026?

If you provide unpaid care to someone with a severe disability, you may be entitled to a significant reduction in your council tax bill. This discount is one of the most underused reliefs in the council tax system, yet it applies to many of the UK’s estimated 5.7 million unpaid carers.

What Is the Council Tax Carer Discount?

Under council tax legislation, a person who is a carer is “disregarded” when counting the number of adults in a household. Being disregarded means you do not count toward the number of adults for council tax purposes. This can reduce the number of “countable” adults in your household, potentially triggering the single person discount (25 per cent) or even a higher reduction if other occupants are also disregarded.

In a household with only two adults, if one is a qualifying carer and the other is the severely disabled person they care for, the carer is disregarded and the disabled person may also be disregarded under separate rules. In that case, the property can qualify for a 50 per cent discount.

Who Qualifies as a Carer for Council Tax Purposes?

To qualify as a disregarded carer for council tax, all of the following conditions must be met:

1. You provide care for at least 35 hours per week.
2. The person you care for is not your spouse, civil partner, or a child under 18.
3. You live in the same property as the person you care for.
4. The person you care for receives at least one of the following:
   • Attendance Allowance
   • Disability Living Allowance (care component at the middle or highest rate)
   • Personal Independence Payment (daily living component, either rate)
   • Constant Attendance Allowance (paid at or above the normal maximum rate)
   • An increase in Disablement Pension due to the need for constant care

You do not need to be in receipt of Carer’s Allowance to qualify for the council tax disregard, and you do not need to have formally registered as a carer with any authority. The test is purely about the hours provided and the benefits received by the person being cared for.

What If You Are Caring for a Spouse or Partner?

The carer disregard specifically excludes care provided to a spouse, civil partner, or partner. However, this does not mean couples in this situation are without relief. If the person being cared for qualifies as someone with a severe mental impairment (SMI), they may themselves be disregarded separately — which would still reduce the council tax bill even without the carer disregard applying.

Additionally, if the property has been adapted for a disability, the disability banding reduction may apply, reducing the bill to the rate of the band below yours.

What About Child Carers?

Unpaid carers who are under 18 are not subject to council tax at all, as only adults (those aged 18 and over) are liable. If you are 18 or 19 and still in full-time non-advanced education (such as A-levels or a BTEC), you are also disregarded, though on different grounds.

How Much Could You Save?

The saving depends on your household composition. Common scenarios:

• Two adults, one is a qualifying carer: The carer is disregarded. Only one “countable” adult remains, so you qualify for the single person discount — 25 per cent off your bill.
• Two adults, carer plus a person with SMI: Both may be disregarded. A 50 per cent discount may apply.
• Three adults, one is a qualifying carer: Two “countable” adults remain. No discount triggered by the disregard alone, but the bill is still calculated correctly.

A 25 per cent council tax discount on an average Band D bill in England (approximately £2,200 per year in 2025/26) represents a saving of around £550 per year. That is a significant amount for households that are often under considerable financial and emotional strain.

How to Claim the Carer Discount

The carer discount does not apply automatically. You must apply to your local council. The process is straightforward:

1. Contact your council’s revenues or council tax department — by phone, online, or in writing.
2. Explain that you believe you qualify as a disregarded carer.
3. Your council will ask for supporting information, typically including:
   • Confirmation that you live at the property
   • Details of the hours of care provided
   • Evidence that the person you care for receives a qualifying benefit (for example, their award letter for PIP or Attendance Allowance)
4. The council will assess your application and update your bill if you qualify.

The discount can usually be backdated to the date you first became eligible. Ask your council how far they will backdate and provide evidence covering the relevant period.

What If You Are Registered as a Carer with the Council?

Some councils maintain a register of carers, and some offer additional council tax support to registered carers beyond the statutory disregard. If your council has a local carer support scheme, ask about it when you contact the revenues team.

What If You Stop Being a Carer?

If your caring responsibilities end — for example, because the person you cared for has passed away, moved to residential care, or no longer receives the qualifying benefit — you must notify your council. Failing to do so can result in the discount being overpaid, which the council will recover as an overpayment.

Getting Help

If you are unsure whether you qualify, or if your council has refused your application and you believe that is wrong, free advice is available:

• Carers UK: advice and information for unpaid carers, including benefit entitlements
• Citizens Advice: local advisers who can help you assess eligibility and support your application
• Council Tax Advisors: specialist council tax guidance, including disregard claims and appeals

Summary

• Qualifying carers are disregarded for council tax purposes, potentially triggering the 25 per cent single person discount
• You must provide at least 35 hours of care per week, live with the person you care for, and they must receive a qualifying benefit
• The disregard does not apply to care for a spouse or civil partner, but other reliefs may still apply
• You must apply to your council — the discount does not apply automatically
• Backdating may be available to the date you first became eligible

If you are an unpaid carer and have not yet checked whether you qualify for a council tax discount, now is the time to act. Contact Council Tax Advisors for free guidance on your entitlement.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Rules vary between local authorities. Seek independent advice for your specific situation.