Do you need help to pay your Council Tax bill or rent?

If you are liable to pay Council Tax or pay Rent you may apply for benefit.  

Your benefit will be calculated based on the following:

• Your capital, including any savings
• Your income
• The amount of Council Tax or rent you pay
• Your family circumstances

Even if your income is high if you share a house with other adults (except for a partner) who have low incomes, you may be able to claim Council Tax Second Adult Rebate.

Many people lose benefit because they delay making a claim. Benefit can not normally be backdated, so don't delay - complete an application form today.

• Further information about Council Tax and Housing Benefits
• pdf Read our summary of the Council Tax Support Scheme (1.27 MB)
• Apply for Council Tax support

If you, or someone who lives with you, need a room, an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property because you use a wheelchair indoors, you may be entitled to a reduced Council Tax bill.  For more information contact us.  

(Financial and technical assistance is available to assist in adapting homes to meet the needs of disabled children and adults.  For more information see our Disabled Facilities Grants page.)

If your home has any special fixtures which have been added for a disabled resident which reduce the home's value and you do not think they have been taken into account in the valuation band to which your home has been assigned you should contact the Listing Officer (see Appeals).

More information about disabilities can be found on the Worcestershire County Council website.

You may also be entitled to travel concessions.  Check and see.

Difficulty paying your Council Tax

You can apply online for Council Tax Support. You can also spread your payments until March next year. 

Please contact our Revenues and Benefits team for more information by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us on 0300 456 0560.

If you already receive Council Tax Support it is important to report any changes in your circumstances to us as soon as possible. This can be done by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Council Tax discounts

You may be able to reduce your Council Tax bill if you qualify for a discount or if someone living in your property is disregarded for Council Tax purposes. Use the sections below to find out what discounts are available and how to apply.

Please continue to pay your current Council Tax instalments while we assess your application. If your application is successful, we'll send you a revised bill and if a refund is relevant, we will arrange this with you.

Single Person Discount

You may be eligible for a 25% Single Person Discount on your Council Tax if you are the only adult aged 18 or over living in your property as your main home.

Apply online for a single person discount

Hosting someone under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme

If you receive the Single Person Discount and host a Ukrainian guest under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, your guest will be disregarded for Council Tax purposes while you remain eligible for Thank You payments. This means you can usually continue to receive your 25% discount during this period.

Thank You payments are available for the duration of your guest’s initial Homes for Ukraine visa and, subsequently, for the first 18 months of their Ukraine Permission Extension.

When your eligibility for Thank You payments ends

Once your eligibility for Thank You payments ends, your Ukrainian guest will no longer be disregarded for Council Tax purposes under this arrangement.

If your guest continues to live with you, you will no longer qualify for the 25% Single Person Discount, and your full Council Tax charge will become payable. You should contact us if you think your bill is incorrect for any reason so we can review accordingly. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., ensuring your Council Tax Account number appears in the subject box of your email.

Discounts for eligible individuals

Some adults are disregarded when we work out your Council Tax bill. This means they are not counted when deciding how many adults live in a property.

You may qualify if someone living in your property is:

Empty properties

If your property is empty and substantially unfurnished, you may qualify for a temporary discount or be charged a premium depending on how long it has been empty.

From 1 April 2026, a 100% premium applies to properties that have been empty for more than 12 months, unless an exception applies. Before 1 April 2026, the premium applied only to properties that had been empty and unfurnished for two years or more.

There are some exceptions to the long-term empty property premium.

pdf Find out more about the exceptions and how to apply (this will take you to the PDF of the exceptions) (154 KB)

Properties undergoing major repairs or structural alterations

If your empty property requires major structural repairs to make it habitable or is undergoing structural alterations, you may qualify for a 100% Council Tax discount for up to 12 months. After this period, the full Council Tax charge applies. If the property has been empty for more than 12 months, the empty homes premium may also apply.

Apply for a Major Repairs or Alteration Discount

Newly built empty properties

A newly built property that is empty and unfurnished can receive a 100% discount for up to 3 months.

After three months, the normal Council Tax charge applies.

Second homes (Furnished properties that are no ones sole or main residence)

From 1 April 2025, Worcester City Council charges a 100% Council Tax premium on most second homes. This means you will normally pay 200% Council Tax unless an exception applies.

pdf Find out more about the exceptions and how to apply (this will take you to the PDF of the exceptions) (154 KB)

Job-related second home discount

You may get a 50% Council Tax discount if you are required by your job to live in one property but also pay Council Tax on another property.

You may qualify if one of your homes is:

• provided by your employer because it is needed for your job (for example tied accommodation)
• used so you can carry out your job (for example living at or near your workplace)
• occupied as part of your role as a minister of religion
• Ministry of Defence accommodation that is exempt from Council Tax

The discount can apply to one property only, either:

• the job-related property, or
• your other home (which becomes your second home)

You will not usually qualify if:

• you simply choose to live near your workplace without a job requirement to do so and the employer has not provided the accommodation to live in
• you are not liable for Council Tax on both properties (unless you are in the Armed Forces or a minister of religion)
• you are a director or partner in the company providing the accommodation (unless you are working full-time and the organisation is non-profit or charitable)

Apply for a Second Home Discount

We may ask for:

• your employment contract
• evidence that your accommodation is required for your job
• details of both Council Tax accounts

Tell us if your circumstances change

If you receive a discount, you must tell us immediately if your circumstances change.

For example, if:

• another adult moves into your property
• you move home
• your property becomes occupied
• you no longer qualify for a discount.

If you fail to tell us about a change, you may receive a £70 penalty. A further penalty of £200 may apply if you continue to withhold information.

Contact us

If you think you're entitled to a discount that is not shown on your Council Tax bill, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Moving in

If you are moving to Worcester for the first time or have previously lived in the area but have not paid Council Tax to us before please complete the Moving In form.

If you are a landlord and wish to tell us about a change of tenants in your property please use this form.

Moving within South Worcestershire

If you currently pay Council Tax to Malvern Hills, Worcester City or Wychavon (or have done so in the past) and are moving to another address within Malvern Hills, Worcester City or Wychavon where you will be liable for the Council Tax please complete the Moving within the area form.

If you are a landlord and wish to tell us about a change of tenants in your property please use this form.

Moving out

If you are moving out of the Malvern Hills, Worcester City or Wychavon area or will not be liable for Council Tax at your new address please complete the Moving out form. If you currently pay your council tax by direct debit we recommend you contact your bank and cancel the direct debit immediately.

If you are a landlord and wish to tell us about a change of tenants in your property please use this form.

With effect from 1 April 2023, if you are paying your Council Tax by direct debit and move out of the area or your account is closed, any credit on the account, once the amendment has been made, will be refunded to the bank account being used to make your payments from.

We will only refund a credit if there is no outstanding Council Tax due on any other accounts in your name.

Other changes

If there are other changes such as an adult leaving or joining your household then please complete the Change of Circumstances form to tell us.

Electoral Register

In addition, you'll also need to contact Electoral Services to update the electoral register. To amend your electoral registration details please see contact/registration details below.

• Electoral Register Helpline:  01905 722530
• Electoral Services Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
• Electoral Register online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote