Council tax discount or exemption for care leavers

A council tax discount or exemption for a young person who was looked after by a local authority but is no longer under local authority care.

You may qualify for a discount or exemption for council tax if you're a young person who has left care.

A care leaver is a person who:

• is at least 18 years old but not yet 26 years old
• was looked after by a local authority on or at any time after their 16th birthday
• is no longer looked after by a local authority.

You may qualify for a council tax exemption if you've left care and either:

• live on your own
• share a home where everyone in the household is also a care leaver.

A 25% discount may apply if:

• you're a care leaver and live with one other adult who does not have to pay council tax (also known as 'disregarded')
• there are 2 or more adults living in the property and all but one person is disregarded for council tax purposes.

If you're 'disregarded', it means we do not include you when we work out the number of people living in a household for council tax purposes.

You're disregarded for council tax purposes if you're:

• under 18 years old
• 18 or 19 years old and in full-time education
• a full-time student at college or university - see discount or exemption for students
• a student nurse - see discount or exemption for students
• severely mentally impaired - see discount or exemption for a person with a severe mental impairment
• a live-in carer for someone who is not your partner, spouse, or child under 18 - see discount or exemption for care providers.

When assessing if a discount is applicable, we'll need to consider:

• who is responsible for paying council tax in the household
• any other discounts or exemptions already in place
• the number of other residents who are over 18 in your household.

You'll need to apply for a council tax exemption or discount. Even if you're entitled to a discount or exemption, you will not get one unless you apply for it.

You'll need to provide a letter from the local authority you were looked after by. 

If you're filling in the form on behalf of a care leaver, you'll need to provide this letter for them.

We cannot process your form until all the evidence required has been provided. 

If you were in care under Renfrewshire Council rather than another local authority, you do not need to provide a letter. 

Apply for a council tax discount or exemption for care leavers

You’ll get an email confirmation with a case reference number and we’ll begin to assess your application.

We'll let you know of our decision by email.

If your discount is confirmed, we'll send you a revised council tax notice.

You should continue to pay your council tax as normal until you have received a revised notice.

If you no longer qualify for a discount, you must tell us of your change in status.

We'll then update your council tax account and send you a new bill.

You may have to pay a fine if you do not tell us.

Get help with paying your council tax

If you think you could fall behind on your council tax payments, phone us on 0300 300 0300 and ask for advice. There may be support available to help you avoid missing your payments.