Second adult rebate
Second Adult Rebate is a type of Council Tax Reduction based on the income of other people living with you. It is paid to your Council Tax account and reduces the amount of your bill.
Who can claim Second Adult Rebate?
You can claim Second Adult Rebate if you are a single person, of pensionable age and responsible for paying the Council Tax on the property where you live, and have other adults aged 18 or over living with you who are on a low income. Second Adult Rebate is usually for single people who do not qualify for Council Tax Reduction because their income or capital is too high.
What if I have a partner living with me?
Most people of pensionable age who have a partner living with them cannot get Second Adult Rebate.
If you are of pensionable age and have a partner living with you, Second Adult Rebate can only be awarded if the following conditions are met:
- there is at least one other adult resident at the property with you and
- your partner, the other adult is on a low income and
- you or your partner, are not counted for Council Tax discount purposes (see list below)
People not counted for Council Tax discount purposes:
- full-time students
- student nurses
- severely mentally impaired people
- youth training scheme trainees
- people detained in hospital
- long-term hospital patients
- certain apprentices
- patients in nursing homes
- members of religious communities
- certain care workers
- prisoners
How is it worked out?
Second Adult Rebate is worked out by looking at the total gross income of all the other adults who live with you. We do not need to know any details of your income or capital.
How much can I get?
This depends on the type and amount of income of the other adults in your home.
Second Adult Rebate may reduce your Council Tax bill by the following, until 31 March 2026:
| 25% | if all of the other adults receive either, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit or any combination of these benefits |
|---|---|
| 15% | if their total gross income (before any deductions) is below £276.00 per week |
| 7.5% | if their total gross income is between £276.00 and £357.99 per week |
If their total income is £358.00 or more per week, you will not qualify for Second Adult Rebate.
From 1 April 2026, Second Adult Rebate may reduce your Council Tax bill by the following:
| 25% | if all of the other adults receive either, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit or any combination of these benefits |
|---|---|
| 15% | if their total gross income (before any deductions) is below £289 per week |
| 7.5% | if their total gross income is between £289 and £375 per week |
If their total income is £375 or more per week, you will not qualify for Second Adult Rebate.
How can I claim?
The person who is liable to pay the Council Tax on the property must make the claim for Second Adult Rebate.
They must complete a Support claim form and if asked for, provide evidence of the other adult(s) income.
If you only want to claim Second Adult Rebate, you will not have to give details of your income, only those of the other adults in your household.