Letting you know about your claim If the second adult has a ‘gross income’ (income before Stour Valley & Poole Partnership We must: tax and National Insurance) of: • tell you about all decisions we make on your Council • less than £201.00 a week, you will be entitled to 15% Tax Support claim; off your council tax bill; Council Tax • if you ask us, give you more information about how • £201.00 to £259.99 a week, you will be entitled to we worked out your entitlement to Council Tax 7.5% off your council tax bill; Support; • or £260.00 a week or more, you will not be entitled to Support • look again at your claim if you disagree with our any money off your council tax bill. decision on your Council Tax Support claim; and Information available online for people of • explain your rights of appeal. Further information is available on your Second Adult Rebate if you are a resident of council’s websites. working age Christchurch, East Dorset or North Dorset. • If you are a resident of Christchurch, East Dorset (If you are a resident of Poole, Second Adult Rebate only or North Dorset go to: applies if the claimant has reached the state pension www.dorsetforyou.com/benefits 2018/19 credit qualifying age). • If you are a resident of Poole go to: If you are responsible for paying council tax and you are: www.poole.gov.uk/benefits-and-council-tax/ • single; or benefits • one of a couple with one or both of you disregarded You can also get an estimate using the benefit calculators for council tax purposes; and available online either by accessing your Councils • you have someone living with you (known as a ‘second websites or online through https://www.gov.uk/ adult’) who is over 18 and does not pay rent; benefits-calculators you may qualify for Second Adult Rebate. Who to contact Whether you are entitled to Second Adult Rebate For more information or if you have any questions, please depends on the income and circumstances of a second contact your local Benefits Office. adult. You could qualify for up to 25% off your council Telephone: 0345 034 4569 tax bill. Email: [email protected] Your eligible Council Tax may be restricted to 91.5% Postal address: Stour Valley & Poole Partnership, of your Council Tax charge. This will be detailed in the PO Box 722, Poole, BH15 2YE Second Adult Rebate decision letter. Where can I get more advice? You, as the person responsible for council tax, must apply To speak to an assessor at Dorset Adviceline please for Second Adult Rebate, not the second person. You phone 0344 245 1291 this line is open Monday to Friday can claim for both Council Tax Support and Second Adult 10am-4pm. Rebate on the same claim form, but we will only award the support that will give you the most money off your council tax bill. If the second adult receives , income based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit or income- related Employment and Support Allowance, you could receive 25% off your council tax bill.

We have tried our best to make sure the details given in this leaflet are correct. January 2018 However, this information is not a statement of law and is a guide only. This leaflet is intended for people of working • Your (and your partner’s) savings Calculating Council Tax Support age. A separate leaflet is available for people If you have under £6000 in savings, we do not take if you are a resident of Poole who have attained the qualifying age for your savings into account when we work out your People on Income Support, income-based Pension Credit, as there are different rules. entitlement to Council Tax Support. Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance Who can claim Council Tax Support? If you have between £6000 and £16,000 in savings, If you are not in a ‘Protected Group’ you will be entitled If you pay council tax and are on a low income, you can we add £1 to your weekly income for every £250 in to the lower of: apply for Council Tax Support, on top of any council-tax savings you have. discounts or reductions you already receive. If you have over £16,000 in savings, you may not be • 80% of the council tax charge for your property after any discounts or reductions that you are entitled to less If you are in the ‘Protected Groups’ detailed later, your eligible for Council Tax Support. any deductions for non-dependants, or Council Tax Support will be calculated using 100% of What we do when we have details about your your eligible Council Tax liability. If you are receiving income and savings • 80% of the council tax charge for a band C property Income Support, income based Job Seeker’s Allowance Once we know your income, we will take from it an after any discounts or reductions that you are entitled or income-related Employment and Support Allowance ‘applicable amount’. The ‘applicable amount’ reflects the to less any deductions for non-dependants and subject and you are in one of the protected groups, you will be basic living needs of your household. It is based on your to a minimum entitlement of 50 pence per week. entitled to 100% of your eligible Council Tax liability less age and circumstances. People not on Income Support, income-based any deduction for non-dependants and if you are a Poole If you have non-dependants in your household we may Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related resident subject to a minimum entitlement of 50 pence reduce your entitlement. This is because we expect them Employment and Support Allowance and not per week. to contribute towards the weekly living costs of your in the ‘protected groups’. Claim straight away... if you delay household. We will calculate the award in the same way as above, you may lose entitlement. Calculating the Council Tax Support if you are less 20% of the amount by which your net income You can apply online on your Councils website or ask a resident of Christchurch, East Dorset goes above the ‘applicable amount’ and subject to a your local Benefits Service for an application form. or North Dorset minimum entitlement of 50 pence per week. People on Income Support, income-based What do you need to work We will pay the Council Tax Support direct to your council Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related out my entitlement? tax account. Employment and Support Allowance For people not on Income Support, income-based Protected Groups Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment You will be entitled to 91.5% of your eligible Council Tax Where the claimant or partner is in receipt of: and Support Allowance, you will need to give us the liability less any deductions (amounts taken off) for non- dependants unless you are in the ’Protected Groups’. • War Disablement Pension, War Widows Pension or following information. War Widows Disablement Pension, or People not on Income Support, income-based • Your net income • a Disability Premium, Enhanced Disability Premium, Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related We need to know your (and your partner, if you Severe Disability Premium, Disabled Child Premium, Employment and Support Allowance and not have one) net income. This is the amount you earn Carer Premium, or Support Component within their in the ‘protected groups’. after tax, National Insurance, half of any pension Employment and Support Allowance; or contributions you make and any other income you You will be entitled to 91.5% of your eligible Council Tax • Where the Applicable Amount has been determined receive, such as tax credits, benefits, liability less any deductions (amounts taken off) for non- in accordance with Part 14 (Applicable amount: and allowances. Some income does not count dependants unless any of your (and your partner’s, if you Persons who are not pensioners who have an award towards your net income for example War Pensions, have one) income is more than the ‘applicable amount’. of universal credit) and the applicant or partner is in Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence If your net income is more than this, we will deduct 20% receipt of an income or premium listed above. off the Council Tax Support amount. Payment, Attendance Allowance, and Then you will be classed as protected and your Council Child Maintenance. We will pay the Council Tax Support direct to your council Tax Support will be calculated using 100% of your tax account. This will mean you will pay less (or no) eligible Council Tax Liability. council tax.