How to claim council tax support

In order to claim council tax support, you need to complete an application form.

Council tax support entitlement generally begins on the Monday following your verbal or written request to claim the support, as long as we receive a completed claim form from you within a calendar month of your request.

However a claim may be backdated where the claimant can show 'good cause' as to why the claim was not made earlier. For working aged claimants a claim may be backdated for a maximum of up to 1 month from the date of the backdating request. For pension aged claimants we are able to consider the claim for a maximum of 3 months before the date of claim.

A person may claim council tax support up to 17 weeks in advance of the date they reach pension age, or up to 13 weeks in advance of some other event which will mean they will become entitled to council tax support, for example moving to a new address. However we will not be able to pay you any council tax support until you move in.

The online application form is for new claims only, please see our change of address or change in circumstances to let us know of these changes.

Apply online

You can complete your council tax support claim online - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

apply online link

Complete the form in your own time and at your own pace. The online form will ask only the questions relevant to your circumstances and tell you if you need to provide any further information.

You can save the form at any point and return to it later, just ensure that you keep a record of the claim ID and password to access it again, as we will not be able to get these for you.

Other ways to apply

You can contact the benefits and revenues customer services section for a claim form to be sent to you or if you prefer we can complete the claim form with you over the telephone or in person at our office in Ripley. 

You can download the council tax support claim form or collect one from our office in Ripley.

Further housing benefit and council tax support forms are available to download individually.

Alternatively, if you cannot make a claim online call us on 01773 841470 and a customer services advisor will talk you through the other options for making a claim. 

Need further help or information?

Contact the team directly on 01773 841470 or email benefits@ambervalley.gov.uk