Second adult rebate is money from the council to help you pay your council tax. It is an alternative rebate to main council tax benefit for people who only get a small amount of main benefit or who do not qualify for main council tax benefit at all. It is payable because someone who lives with you (who is not your partner) is on a low income.

If you claim council tax benefit we will automatically work out if main council tax benefit or second adult rebate is higher. You will be awarded the higher one only.

Second adult rebate is paid into your council tax account. If you are a tenant your housing benefit and council tax benefit / second adult rebate are worked out together.

Eligibility

Both home owners and tenants can get second adult rebate. You, or your partner, must be liable to pay council tax to get second adult rebate. You must be:

• a single person who has other adults aged 18 or over on a low income living with you, or
• part of a couple (including opposite and same sex partners) where one of you is disregarded for council tax purposes (e.g. because you are a full-time student, severely mentally impaired, apprentice) who have other adults aged 18 or over on a low income living with you.

You cannot get second adult rebate if somebody lives with you on a commercial basis, such as a boarder or lodger.

Your own income and savings are not taken into account.

How is second adult rebate worked out ?

Second adult rebate is a 'means tested benefit'.

We look at the income of the second adult or second adults:

• if they (all) are on income support, jobseekers allowance or pension credit you get a 25% discount off your council tax bill
• if their income is less than £175 you get a 15% discount off your council tax bill
• if their income is less than £228 you get a 7.5% discount off your council tax bill

How to claim

You can telephone 551556 and make a claim over the phone, or you can pick up a second adult rebate form from our office or we can post one to you. Alternatively you can download the form from this page.

If you are claiming housing benefit as well, or are not sure if you will get more main council tax benefit than second adult rebate, you can complete our standard housing benefit and council tax benefit form, available to download on council tax benefit. You will need to provide us with proof of your identity and circumstances. You will also need to provide us with proof of the second adults income and savings.

Second adult rebate is normally paid from the Monday after we receive a written claim. If you delay returning a claim form you have downloaded or receive following a phone call you risk losing benefit. You may wish to write a letter requesting benefit so as to ensure a written claim is made promptly.

If your or your second adult's circumstances change

You must tell us immediately if the circumstances of you or your second adult(s) changes. For example:

• changes in their address
• changes in their income, wages, pensions or savings

You must tell us immediately if you move or if you have a change in who lives with you.