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Carers or care workers

Council tax discounts for people providing care

Care workers are people who are employed, usually by a charity or local authority, to provide care. Carers are unpaid.

Please note - A full council tax bill is based on at least two adults living in a property. Discounts do not apply if at least two people over 18 who live in the same property are counted for council tax purposes. If after discounting occupants there remains only one occupant then a discount of 25% of the council tax bill may be given.

Please note - You must continue to pay council tax in accordance with your bill until your discount has been granted. Failure to do so may result in recovery action which could incur costs.

Discount for care workers

You may qualify for a discount for care workers if you're a care worker.

To be considered a care worker, you need to meet the following conditions:

  • you provide support or care to another person at the same address
  • you're employed to provide support or care to that person, and were introduced to him or her by a charity or local authority
  • you earn no more than £44 per week
  • you work for at least 24 hours a week
  • you live where the care is given or in premises which have been provided for the better performance of the work.

To apply for this discount, complete the application form and return it with a copy of your payslip to the address on the form.

Apply for the council tax discount for care workers

Discount for carers

You may qualify for a discount for carers if you're a carer.

To be considered a carer, you need to meet the following conditions:

  • you live in the same home as the person you provide care for
  • the person receiving care is not your spouse, partner or child under the age of 18
  • you provide at least 35 hours a week of care to a person who is entitled to receive one of the following:
    • any rate of Attendance Allowance
    • the middle or highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
    • any rate of the daily living activity component of Personal Independence Payment
    • an increase in their disablement pension
    • an increase in Constant Attendance Allowance.

Please note - You do not have to be in receipt of a Carer's Allowance to claim a discount.

To apply for this discount, complete the application form and return it to the address on the form. You also need to provide:

  • evidence of receipt of benefits
  • proof of address, for example a bank statement with your name and address.

Apply for the council tax discount for carers

Appeal

If the Royal Borough of Greenwich decides not to award a discount, you can appeal in the first instance to the Council Tax team within 28 days of notice of the decision stating your reasons. However you may not appeal against the amount of the discount.

Related exemptions

If a property is left empty because the resident has moved elsewhere to receive or provide care, the property is exempt from council tax. Find out more about the relevant exemption:

An annexe of a property occupied by a dependant relative may also be exempt from council tax:

Other information for carers

Find out more about services and help for carers

Contact Council Tax