Council Tax Reduction for Disabled People
What the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme does
If a disabled person lives in a property that has been adapted to meet their needs — an extra bathroom or kitchen for their use, a room used predominantly for treatment or storing equipment, or extra space for a wheelchair to be used indoors — you can apply to have your council tax bill reduced to the next band down. A Band D property, for example, is billed as if it were Band C. Properties already in the lowest band, Band A, get an equivalent reduction of roughly one-ninth off the bill instead, since there’s no band below A to drop to.
Who can apply and what you need
- The disabled person doesn’t need to be the one named on the council tax bill — a family member or landlord can apply on their behalf
- You’ll typically need evidence of the disability and confirmation of how the property has been adapted, sometimes backed by an occupational therapist’s assessment
- The reduction applies regardless of whether the disabled resident is an adult or a child
- This scheme runs in England, Wales and Scotland with broadly similar eligibility rules, though the exact application process is set by each local council
Combining it with other discounts
The disabled band reduction can be applied alongside other discounts you’re entitled to, such as the 25% single person discount if only one adult lives in the property. It’s worth checking both, since councils don’t always flag every reduction you qualify for automatically — you generally need to apply for each one.