'Disregarded' people
A full Council Tax bill for an occupied property is worked out assuming at least two adults are living there. Some adults are not counted and can qualify for a 'discount disregard'. The table below shows how a bill would be calculated.
| Number of adults living in the property | Number of adults who are not counted | Council Tax discount % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 2 | 1 | 25% |
| 2 | 2 | 50% |
| 3 | 1 | 0% |
| 3 | 2 | 25% |
| 3 | 3 | 50% |
| 4 | 1 | 0% |
| 4 | 2 | 0% |
| 4 | 3 | 25% |
| 4 | 4 | 50% |
Some types of disregarded people qualify for a 100% exemption. These are highlighted in bold below.
| People not counted (discount disregard) | Description | Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Person in detention | People detained by order of a court. This applies whether they are in prison, in a hospital, or in any other place. This discount disregard lasts for the period of detention. | Apply - person in detention (PDF, 189 KB)(opens new window) |
| Severely mentally impaired | The severely mentally impaired person must be entitled to a qualifying state benefit and a medical practitioner must confirm their severe mental impairment. | |
| Person for whom Child Benefit is payable | Where a person has reached the age of 18 but Child Benefit is still payable for them. | Apply for discount (PDF, 194 KB)(opens new window) |
| School and college leavers | Any person aged 18 or 19 who leaves school or college between 1 May and 31 October in any year. Before they left they must have been studying a qualifying course of education. An A level is an example of a qualifying course of education. | Apply for discount (PDF, 194 KB)(opens new window) |
| Students | Students are not counted for Council Tax purposes. | Find out more and apply |
| Non-British spouses of student | A spouse or dependant of a student. They must be: b) prevented from taking paid employment or from claiming benefits while in the UK | Apply for discount (PDF, 191 KB)(opens new window) |
| Apprentices | Employed for the purposes of learning a trade, business or profession. They must be: b) employed at a salary of no more than £195 per week | Apply for discount (PDF, 211 KB)(opens new window) |
| Youth Training trainees | Under 25 years of age and doing training funded by the Learning Skills Council for England. | Apply for discount (PDF, 202 KB)(opens new window) |
| Hospital patients | A person who has their main home in a NHS hospital. This class only applies to a hospital with a valuation band. It does not apply to a private dwelling. | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
| Patients in homes | A person living in a residential care home, nursing home, mental nursing home or hostel. This class only applies to homes or hostels with a valuation band. It does not apply to private dwellings. | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
| Care workers who are paid | A carer must be: a) providing care through a connection with Crown/charity/local authority b) employed for at least 24 hours a week c) paid no more than £44 per week d) living where the care is provided or in premises provided for the care | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
| Care workers who are not paid | A carer must be: a) providing care for a person entitled to certain state benefits b) living in the same property as the person receiving care c) providing care for at least 35 hours a week d) not the spouse or partner of the person receiving care e) not the parent if the person receiving care is under 18 | Apply for discount (PDF, 195 KB)(opens new window) |
| Residents of hostels for the homeless or night shelters | Any person living in accommodation for the homeless. | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
| Members and dependants of international headquarters and defence organisations | Any person (and dependant) who is a member of: a) an international headquarters b) a defence organisation | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
| Members of religious communities | The principal occupation is prayer, contemplation, education, relief of suffering or any combination of these. To qualify each person must have no income or capital of their own. | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
| Members and dependants of visiting forces | Member of a visiting force or a member of a civilian component of a visiting force. | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
| Person with diplomatic privilege or immunity | Any person with diplomatic privileges and immunities. | Apply for discount (PDF, 80 KB)(opens new window) |
Contact us
Council Tax
Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
0191 433 3600