In certain circumstances, people living at a property can be disregarded for council tax purposes. For instance, if there are two people resident and one person is disregarded, they might be entitled to a discount of 25%, and if both are disregarded the discount would be 50%.

Types of disregard

• Persons in detention - this applies where, due to the length of the sentence, (s)he is still regarded as having his/her sole or main residence in the dwelling
• The severely mentally impaired - the person concerned must receive a qualifying benefit and have a doctor's certificate confirming the impairment
• Persons to whom child benefit is payable - such a person must be 18 years old, and child benefit must be payable to him/her. Note that child benefit ends on a person's 19th birthday at the very latest
• Students - i.e. those undertaking a full-time or qualifying course of education, foreign language assistants and students in further education under 20 years of age. We usually ask to see a certificate of student status
• Student nurses - they must be undertaking a course leading to inclusion on the register maintained under section 10 of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979
• Apprentices - they must receive a gross salary or allowance of no more than £160.00 per week, and expect to earn substantially more when qualified
• Youth Training Trainees - they must be under 25 years of age and undertaking an approved government training course under the relevant act
• Hospital Patients - such a person must have their sole or main residence in a National Health Trust hospital, or a military/air-force unit or establishment
• Patients in nursing or care homes - such persons must have their sole or main residence in a residential care home, a (mental) nursing home or hostel and be receiving care and/or treatment there
• Carers - (S)he must be providing care and/or support to another person (on behalf of or introduced by a relevant body) for at least 24 hours per week, and must receive no more than £30 per week in remuneration. Althernatively, (S)he must be providing care for someone in receipt of certain benefits who is not a disqualified relative
• Residents of hostels - the person's sole or main residence must be in non-self contained hostel or night shelter accommodation under licenses (not tenancies) for persons with no fixed abode or settled way of life
• Other descriptions - this relates to:
  • A member, or his/her dependant, of an international headquarters or defence organisations
  • People entitled to diplomatic immunity or privileges
  • People and their dependants who have a relevant association with a visiting force
  • Those who have left school or further/higher education under 20 years of age. The discount applies between leaving after 30 April and the following 1 November
  • Members of religious communities, the principal occupation of which consists of any combination of prayer, contemplation, education or the relief of suffering. Such people must generally have no income or capital and be dependant on the community for material needs

If you believe you may be entitled to a disregard, application forms are available to download on this page.

It is important to note that, when completing the form, you ensure your council tax account reference number is clearly quoted.

Please return to Revenue & Benefits, Shropshire Council, P.O Box 4749, Shrewsbury, SY1 9GH, or email to council.tax@shropshire.gov.uk

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