Council tax benefit can help people on low incomes to pay their bill – over 20% of households in Darlington get some rebate and around 14% get full rebate. You do not have to be claiming income support or job seeker's allowance to get council tax benefit – you could also claim if you are;
A Pensioner*
Working
Getting any other benefits
Getting tax credits
* It is estimated that well over 2 million pensioners nationally get council tax benefit but that more than a million others are missing out. Over one third of pensioners nationally do not claim the rebate to which they are entitled, leaving them with unnecessarily high council tax bills.
Please make sure you are not one of these people – if you are a pensioner (or a relative is a pensioner) check to see if you (or your relative) might be entitled using the on-line Benefit calculator You don't have to be eligible to Pension Credit to qualify for council tax benefit.
From 1/4/2004 full council tax benefit can be paid on dwellings in valuation bands F,G and H. Prior to this, the maximum amount was limited to the council tax due for a dwelling in valuation band E.
If you do not have a partner but there is another adult on a low income living in your household, you might be able to get second adult rebate from your bill in respect of that person.
Making a claim for council tax benefit or second adult rebate is easy and the Council will be pleased to help you with the paperwork. For more details on council tax benefit, second adult rebate and how to apply view the Housing Benefits Information
Download Housing and Council Tax Benefit Application Form - pdf document
To get an idea of how much benefit you could be entitled to,
complete the on-line calculator