What is Second Adult Rebate?
Second adult rebate is a reduction to your council tax which can be awarded if you have other second adults living with you. A definition of who is a second adult is available below.
If awarded, it can reduce the council tax charge by up to 25%. The award is applied directly to your council tax account. If awarded, a revised bill will be issued showing the revised council tax you have to pay.
In some circumstances, you may be entitled to both council tax reduction and second adult rebate. In this circumstance, we will award the higher of the two.
Whose income and capital are considered?
When an application for second adult rebate is made your income and capital are not considered in any way. Only the income and capital of second adult(s) is considered.
Who can apply?
You can apply for second adult rebate if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are the only person in your household who needs to pay council tax.
- You share your home with one or more second adults.
- The income of the second adult(s) is low enough.
- No adults in the home are paying a commercial rent to you for living in your home.
If you are not eligible for second adult rebate, you may apply for normal council tax reduction. If you need to pay council tax on your home, along with at least one other person, each one of you may apply for second adult rebate as long as either:
- All of you are disregarded persons (see definition below for who is a disregarded person.)
- All but one of you is a disregarded person.
In addition to the above, a full-time student may also apply if either of the following applies:
- They are the only person who needs to pay council tax and are a full-time student not eligible to apply for main council tax reduction.
- One or more people need to pay council tax and they are all full-time students who are not eligible to apply for main council tax reduction.
Who is a second adult?
A second adult:
- Must share your home on a non-commercial basis (not paying a commercial rent).
- Must be aged 18 or over.
- Does not need to pay council tax.
- Is not your partner.
- Is not a disregarded person.
Who is a disregarded person?
A person is a disregarded person if they fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Children under 18 years old.
- Adults over 18 years old if someone still receives child benefit for them.
- Most full-time students/student nurses.
- School leavers/students at college who are under 20 years old.
- Youth training trainees under 25 years old.
- Severely mentally impaired people.
- Prisoners.
- Apprentices on NCVQ/SVEC courses.
- Carers.
- Members of religious communities.
- People whose normal home is elsewhere.
- Members of certain international bodies and visiting forces.
How much am I entitled to?
Second adult rebate awards are calculated based on the combined gross income from all the second adults.
The income from a disregarded person is ignored unless they are a partner of a second adult. In this case the joint income of the couple would be used when calculating the gross income of the second adults.
The income from any second adult is ignored if they are entitled to income support/jobseekers allowance (income based), employment support allowance (income related) or pension credits.
The following income from a second adult is disregarded when calculating the gross income of second adults: attendance allowance, disability living allowance, personal independence payments, adult disability payments, war disablement pension and war widow’s pension.
Income from savings is used to calculate the gross income for second adults.
| Second Adult’s Circumstances | Second Adult Rebate |
|---|---|
| Where the home would be wholly occupied by one or more full-time students but for the presence of one or more second adults who are in receipt of income support, jobseeker’s allowance (income based), employment support allowance (income related) or pension credit. | 100% |
| Where all the second adults are in receipt of income support, jobseeker’s allowance (income based), employment support allowance (income related) or pension credit. | 25% |
| All second adults in receipt of universal credit with no earnings | 25% |
| Where the gross income of the second adult(s), disregarding any income support, jobseeker’s allowance (income based), employment support allowance (income related) or pension credit: | |
| a) Is less than £237.00 per week | 15% |
| b) Is £237.00 per week or more but less than £308.00 per week | 7.5% |
| c) Is more than £308.00 per week | 0 |
How to apply
- Call 03000 200 292 to request a form by post.
- Download an application for council tax reduction. This form tells you what parts to complete if you are applying for second adult rebate only. The form also explains the types of proof of identity and income that you will be required to provide in support of your application.
What if my circumstances change?
It is important that you tell us of any change in your circumstances that might affect your second adult rebate award such as:
- When anyone moves in or out of your home.
- When a second adult’s income changes.
- When a anyone ceases to be a disregarded person.