If you live on your own or all the people living with you are under 18 you can claim 25% off your Council Tax. A discount of 25% is also available if you have a live-in carer, who is NOT your partner, providing you with at least 35 hours of care each week.
If you are a student living alone or with other students, or you are considered severely mentally impaired, you do not have to pay council tax. You should tell the council if this applies to you.
If you or a person living with you (including a child) is substantially and permanently disabled, the council may reduce the council tax payable by putting your home in a lower tax level.
If you are in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit, JSA, or ESA, it is likely that you will only pay a percentage of your council tax bill. You can check for free with your Council whether you can get Housing Benefit and Council Tax discounts.
Details of how to contact your local council to make the claim should be on your Council Tax Bill, or contact Apply for Council Tax Reduction - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Your local council might give you vouchers to help pay for day-to-day essentials like:
· a hot meal
· second-hand furniture
· household appliances, for example a cooker
This help is known as 'welfare assistance'. Each council runs their own scheme. The help on offer and who can get it varies. Find your local council on GOV.UK and ask them if they run a welfare assistance scheme that could help you.
You don’t have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.
You might be able to get what's called a 'budgeting loan' for essentials like clothing or a washing machine if you claim certain benefits.
You might be eligible if you get:
● Income Support
● income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
● income-related Employment and Support Allowance
● Pension Credit
The loan is interest-free, so you'll only have to pay back what you borrow. You'll usually need to pay back the loan within 2 years.
(check this section on Manchester council website)
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