SAGA — Doing things properly

Discounts on council tax

The odd thing is that more than two million people over 60 could get their council tax reduced if they only asked. This five-part guide will help you see if you are one of them.

ROUGH GUIDE

We start with a rough guide to what you can get. It misses out all the fiddly bits but it shows you if you might get something off your council tax.

You should pay NO COUNCIL TAX if

* You get the guarantee part of pension credit

OR

* A student lives with you and you get any pension credit

You should also pay NO COUNCIL TAX if

* your savings are less than £6000

AND

* you are aged 65 or more and have a weekly income of less than £131.95 if you are single or £197.65 between you if you are a couple

OR

* you are aged 60 to 64 and have a weekly income of less than £114.05 if you are single or £174.05 between you if you are a couple

Carers can get all their council tax paid even if their income is £26.35 more than these amounts. People who are severely disabled can get all their council tax paid even if their income is £46.75 higher.

If your savings are more than £6000 but less than £16,000 you may still get all your council tax paid depending on exactly how much your income and savings are. There is more on how to work this out in the Detailed Guide below.

And even with a higher income you may be able to pay REDUCED COUNCIL TAX. For example, if your council tax is £1,200 a year and you are aged 65 or over, you can get some reduction in it if your income is up to £218 for a single person or up to £312 if you live as a couple. If your council tax is more than this, you may still get some help even if you have a higher income. So it is always worth asking.

You should also pay REDUCED COUNCIL TAX

* If you live alone - or with someone who is exempt - your council tax is cut by 25 per cent.

* If you, or someone living with you, are disabled your council tax may be cut by around 17 per cent.

* If another adult lives with you (not your partner or your tenant) and their income is less than £204 a week your council tax is cut by up to 25 per cent.

If you want to do the calculation yourself, we explain how to work out what help you can get in the detailed guide below. But if you don't want to do the calculations, why not apply anyway?

Contact your local council - the one that sends your council tax bill - and ask about council tax reductions and Council Tax Benefit. There should be someone there to help you with your claim and how to fill in the form. Council Tax Benefit can be backdated for 12 months for people over 60 and reductions, such as those for living alone, can be backdated for longer.

You can also go to another website www.entitledto.co.uk and fill in your details and it will work out your entitlement to council tax benefit - and other things too.

• Discounts on Council Tax - part two