A Martin Lewis fan has managed to cut £700 from their council tax bill.
The user, known only as Lincoln, shared the account of their savings in the latest edition of the MoneySavingExpert newsletter. Lincoln said they reduced the bill by using the free benefit checker tool to see if they were entitled to any extra money - as Mirror Online reports.
The calculator showed Lincoln wasn't entitled to any extra benefits but revealed the user was paying too much in council tax. They wrote: "I used your calculator to see if I was entitled to pension credit, and it told me I wasn't. However, it said I was paying too much council tax, so I applied and got it reduced from £1,333 a year to £642. WOW."
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The saving amounts to £691, which is around a 50% reduction. Some of the most popular online benefit calculators include ones from Turn2us, Policy in Practice and entitledto. Lincoln didn’t say exactly what type of council tax help they applied for, but there are many ways to cut your bill.
How to lower your council tax bill
Some people could be entitled to a council tax discount ranging from 25% to 100% off your bill, but the help offered depends on where you live - so it's best to get in touch with your local authority to see what you could claim. As an example, if you're the only adult living at your address then you could be entitled to 25% off your council tax bill, or you could get 50% off your council tax bill if everyone is your home is “disregarded” from paying.
The maximum 100% discount could apply to someone who has a severe mental impairment and lives alone, or if you live in an all-student household. There are lots of different circumstances where you could apply for a discount - so check with your council to see what help they offer.
You may also be able to claim help through a Council Tax Reduction scheme (sometimes called Council Tax Support) if you're on a low income or on certain benefits. You could see your council tax bills reduced by as much as 100% depending on your circumstances.
Whether you are entitled to help through a Council Tax Support scheme largely depends on the following:
Where you live
Your circumstances (eg income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
Your household income - this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income
If your children live with you
If other adults live with you
You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working. Again, each council has their own scheme so the help offered isn't guaranteed - but it is still worth checking out.
You may also be able to challenge your council tax if you think you're in the wrong band. Do your research first though, as you could end up increasing your bill if you’re found to be in too low of a band.
You can read the full edition of the MoneySavingExpert newsletter here
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