New call for Council Tax discount for all people over State Pension age (2025)

An online petition is calling for State Pension incomes to be taken into account when calculating Council Tax bills.

More than 2,500 people have signed an online petition calling for a Council Tax discount scheme to be introduced for every person over State Pension age. Petition creator David Papworth argues that pensioner incomes are not being taken into account when it comes to calculating Council Tax bills.

The ‘legislate for a Council Tax discount for all pensioners’ petition has been posted on the UK Government's petitions-parliament website. The campaigner states: “I feel that current Council Tax rates do not take pension incomes into account. This means some pensioners are having to pay what I think is a very significant percentage of their pension towards Council Tax.

“When many pensioners have worked for 50 odd years, paid into a pension, bought their own house, then retired on a lower income, I do not think they should have to pay such a significant amount of Council Tax.”

At 10,000 signatures of support the petition is entitled to a written response from the UK Government, at 100,000 it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can view the full petition online here.

Council Tax bills in Scotland have risen by as much as 15.6 per cent (Falkirk) this month as local authorities struggle with mounting debts. Water bills have also gone up by 9.9 per cent, which means households will pay an extra £3.68 each month this year for water and wastewater services.

However, people on a low income, student households and those with a disability or caring responsibilities may be unaware of the Council Tax Reduction scheme, which is only available north of the border.

The latest figures from the Scottish Government show 458,470 recipients were eligible for Council Tax Reduction in December 2024, saving an average of over £850 a year.

People can check whether they are eligible for a Council Tax Reduction through mygov.scot or by contacting their local council.

Below is everything you need to know about who might be eligible for a Council Tax saving.

Check if you could be exempt from paying Council Tax

You will not pay Council Tax if:

• You are a full-time student
• You are in the Armed Forces in Forces accommodation
• You live in a care home or hospital
• Your home is unoccupied and empty (up to six months) - for example, if you’ve gone into hospital
• You have a severe mental impairment (e.g. dementia) - if you only live with someone who has dementia, then you’ll be treated as a sole occupant as they will be disregarded, but you won’t both be exempt

Contact your local authority about your eligibility and how you can apply for an exemption - a link to all 32 local authorities in Scotland is at the bottom of this page.

Could you be eligible for a discount on your Council Tax bill?

There are some circumstances where you may get a reduction on your Council Tax and the amount of discount varies depending on your circumstances.

If you live alone

The full Council Tax is calculated assuming there are two or more people living in each home – if you live alone, you should apply to your local council for a discount - you could get a 25 per cent reduction, regardless of your financial circumstances.

If you live with someone under 18 or a student

Council Tax is not calculated for anyone aged under 18, full-time students, student nurses and some apprentices or trainees.

If you are a carer

Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours per week and who meet additional criteria may be disregarded for Council Tax purposes, contact your local authority for their eligibility criteria.

Just be aware, this doesn’t apply if the person receiving care is the partner of the carer, or is the carer’s child aged under 18.

If there are major changes to the value of your home

You may be able to get your home moved to a lower band if it has decreased in value. For example, if you have made home adaptations for a disabled person, or if a motorway has been built nearby.

You may also get the band lowered if a room in the house is dedicated to equipment used by a disabled person on a daily basis.

If you change the way you pay

Although the total year’s amount will stay the same, you can request your bill be split over 12 months instead of 10, so you can spread the cost and reduce your monthly outgoings.

Alternatively, if you can afford to pay the whole bill in one lump sum, check with your local council if you can get a discount.

Apply for Council Tax Reduction

You may be eligible to claim a Council Tax Reduction if you’re on a low income or claiming certain benefits.

You can also claim Council Tax support regardless of whether you own your own home or rent, or whether you’re working or unemployed.

Each local council is responsible for operating their own Council Tax support scheme, so the amount of support given across the country may vary.

The amount you will get depends on many factors, including:

• Which benefits you receive
• Your age
• Your income
• Your savings
• Who you live with
• How much council tax you pay

You may get more Council Tax support if you receive a disability or carers benefit.

If you receive the Guarantee Credit Part of Pension Credit you may even get your Council Tax paid in full. If you don’t have it, but are on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings, you may still get some help.

Local councils

Contact your local council from the list below to apply for a Council Tax Reduction or discount.

• Inverclyde
• Renfrewshire
• West Dunbartonshire
• East Dunbartonshire
• Glasgow
• East Renfrewshire
• North Lanarkshire
• Falkirk
• West Lothian
• Edinburgh
• Midlothian
• East Lothian
• Clackmannanshire
• Fife
• Dundee
• Angus
• Aberdeenshire
• Aberdeen
• Moray
• Highland
• Na h-Eileanan Siar
• Argyll and Bute
• Perth and Kinross
• Stirling
• North Ayrshire
• East Ayrshire
• South Ayrshire
• Dumfries and Galloway
• South Lanarkshire
• Scottish Borders
• Orkney
• Shetland