Apply for a Council Tax exemption if you're under 20 and have Child Benefit paid for you

We will not count you for Council Tax if you're 18 to 20 years old, and:

• you're on a further education course that lasts at least 3 months
• you're studying for at least 12 hours a week
• someone still gets Child Benefit for you

We do not count some people when working out how many people live in a property. This is also known as being 'disregarded'.

Check who's disregarded for Council Tax.

Even if you're disregarded, you'll need to apply for a discount or exemption. You will not get it automatically.

What you need to apply

You’ll need your 8-digit Council Tax account number. It’s shown at the top of your most recent Council Tax bill. 

The form may ask you to upload proof that you're eligible for a discount. 

Proof we need

A copy of your Child Benefit award letter.

We also need a letter from your school or college. It must include:

• your full name
• your date of birth
• the name of your course
• the number of course hours each week
• the start date and expected end date of your course

Apply

You must answer all the questions on the form even if you know which discount you’re applying for. 

What happens next

It can take up to 21 working days for us to process your application and decide if you're eligible.

We may ask you for more proof.

If you're eligible for the discount, we'll send you an updated bill.

You must tell us within 21 days about any change in your circumstances that may affect your entitlement to a discount or exemption. If you do not tell us, you could get a £70 fixed penalty.

If we decide you're not eligible, we'll tell you in writing. You can appeal our decision.