Second Adult Rebate
Last updated | 21/02/2008
Second Adult Rebate provides assistance with the payment of Council Tax. Second Adult Rebate is awarded to the customer who is liable for Council Tax however the assessment for entitlement is based on the circumstances of a second adult in the property.
The purpose of the scheme is assist those who are liable for Council Tax but are not entitled to receive a Council Tax Discount or Exemption as a second adult (who is not a partner) over the age of 18 lives in the property.
More information on Council Tax Discounts and Reductions.
Second Adult Rebate is not awarded as well as main Council Tax Benefit however an assessment can be carried out to determine which scheme would be more beneficial to you, based on your household circumstances. We refer to this as a 'Better Buy Calculation'.
There are two types of Second Adult Rebate - 'Student Only' Second Adult Rebate and 'General Second Adult Rebate'.
Eligibility for 'Student Only' Second Adult Rebate
'Student Only Second Adult Rebate' is an award to the customer who is liable for Council Tax to compensate for any loss of a Council Tax exemption caused by the presence of a 'Second Adult'. More information on Council Tax Exemptions.
Eligibility for 'General' Second Adult Rebate
'General Second Adult Rebate' is an award to the customer who is liable for Council Tax to compensate for any loss of a Council Tax Discount caused by the presence of a 'Second Adult'. This can be awarded for up to 25% of the Council Tax liability for the property.
Who Can Be Regarded As A Second Adult
Second Adult Rebate can only be awarded (both 'Student Only' and 'General') if there is at least one 'Second Adult' in the property.
To be regarded as a 'Second Adult', he or she must:
- Be a non-dependant (a non-dependant is usually a friend or family member who live with the liable person);
- Be a carer who is not regarded as a non-dependant or classed as a disregarded person;
- Not be disregarded person.
A Disregarded Person
The following, in simple terms, are deemed as 'A Disregarded Person'
- Anyone under the age of 18;
- Anyone aged 18 or 19 who someone receives Child Benefit for;
- Education leavers under the age of 20;
- The majority of full-time students, student nurses and foreign language assistants;
- Youth trainees under the age of 25;
- Apprentices on NCVQ/SVEC courses;
- People in prison or other forms of detention;
- People who normally live elsewhere;
- Certain carers
How To Claim
To apply for Second Adult Rebate, refer to our How To Claim section.
The 'Better Buy' Calculation
If you are unsure if your household circumstances would allow you more Council Tax Benefit than Second Adult Rebate or vice versa, there is no need to worry.
When your application is submitted, we will work out which scheme is more beneficial to your own circumstances. We refer to this as the 'Better Buy' calculation.
In normal circumstances, if you only wish to apply for Second Adult rebate, we would only require evidence of income for the 'Second Adult' along with an application form completed and signed by the liable person. However, in order to do the 'Better Buy' calculation, we require the same evidence required to process an application for main Council Tax Benefit. More information on full evidence requirements.
Further Information
For further information on Second Adult Rebate, please contact us on 01738 476049 by telephone, by email to Housingbenefit@pkc.gov.uk or by attending one of our offices.
