Discounts on your council tax payments

Did you know that there are 1.7 million pensioners, over 60 and over 65, who are not claiming their rightful council tax benefits? If you have reached retirement age, make sure you have all the information that you need to claim these important benefits that will save you £'s and raise your standard of living.

Your local council will pay this money into your Council Tax account to help you pay your council tax bill. Usually this leaves a zero balance in your account, meaning of course that you will not have to pay any council tax at all.

Even if you own your own home, so long as you are on a low income and pay Council Tax you may well be eligible for this benefit.

Since pension credits were introduced, the eligibility for council tax benefits has risen, meaning more pensioners are entitled to it. However, you do not need to be receiving pension credits in order to be eligible for council tax benefits. Also don't forget that receiving council tax benefits will not affect any other benefits you may be receiving, so you really can't lose.

If you think you may be eligible to claim the Council Tax benefit simply contact your local council for a claim form. You should lodge your claim as soon as possible to ensure you  are maximising your entitlements. Assessment is based on your age, the income of yourself and spouse and on whether anyone else is living in your home.

It is surprising how many people over 60 do not realise that receiving a council tax benefit is their right and that the Government wants them to take advantage of programs like this and others, to assist in maintaining quality of life. Perhaps this information is not made as readily available as it should and indeed there is a wide range of other benefits in this category that go unclaimed by millions of people - but just make sure you are not one of them!

  What's this?