A new online petition is calling for people on the State Pension to be exempt from paying Council Tax.
11:05, 15 Sep 2025Updated 15:16, 15 Sep 2025
A new online petition is calling for people on the State Pension to be exempt from paying Council Tax.(Image: PA)
A new online petition is urging the UK Government to pass a “law which exempts all pensioners in Britain from paying Council Tax”. Petition creator Michael Thompson argues that “current provisions only ensure that pensioners on the lowest incomes receive full relief” while others with a modest income miss out on additional financial support.
The ‘exempt all pensioners from Council Tax’ has been posted on the Petitions Parliament website and states: “We believe Council Tax is increasingly unaffordable. Many pensioners often rely on a fixed income and face growing living costs, which may exacerbate financial pressures while pensioners continue to struggle.
“We believe exempting all pensioners from Council Tax isn’t just compassionate but is also fiscally responsible. We believe it could provide relief to a vulnerable demographic and help uphold public services by ensuring fairer funding models.”
READ MORE: Check for Council Tax discount of up to £850 to help cut your monthly paymentsREAD MORE: Winter Fuel Payment qualifying begins for millions of people over State Pension age
At 10,000 signatures of support, the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government. At 100,000, the Petitions Committee will consider it for debate in Parliament – read it in full here.
Help with Council Tax bills
The latest figures from the Scottish Government show that 458,320 households received a Council Tax Reduction (CTR) in July, amounting to an estimated £8.2 million in weekly support.
The CTR scheme takes into account a household’s income, savings, and personal circumstances, and is open to everyone, including those not receiving benefits. People can check their eligibility through mygov.scot or by contacting their local council directly.
Entitlement depends on income, savings and other factors, such as whether there are children in the household, if anyone living there has a disability, or if the household receives certain state benefits.
These include:
Universal CreditIncome SupportIncome-based Jobseeker’s AllowanceIncome-related Employment Support Allowance
If you live with another adult who is not your partner, you may not receive the same level of CTR, as the other person is expected to contribute to the council tax bill.
Even those who do not receive benefits can apply if they are on a low income and have savings below £16,000.
Check if you could be exempt from paying Council Tax
You will not pay Council Tax if:
You are a full-time studentYou are in the Armed Forces in Forces accommodationYou live in a care home or hospitalYour home is unoccupied and empty (up to six months) – for example, if you’ve gone into hospitalYou have a severe mental impairment (e.g. dementia) – if you only live with someone who has dementia, then you’ll be treated as a sole occupant as they will be disregarded, but you won’t both be exempt
Contact your local authority about your eligibility and how you can apply for an exemption – a link to all 32 local authorities in Scotland is at the bottom of this page.
Could you be eligible for a discount on your Council Tax bill?
There are some circumstances where you may get a reduction on your Council Tax and the amount of discount varies depending on your circumstances.
If you live alone
The full Council Tax is calculated assuming there are two or more people living in each home – if you live alone, you should apply to your local council for a discount – you could get a 25 per cent reduction, regardless of your financial circumstances.
If you live with someone under 18 or a student
Council Tax is not calculated for anyone aged under 18, full-time students, student nurses and some apprentices or trainees.
If you are a carer
Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours per week and who meet additional criteria may be disregarded for Council Tax purposes, contact your local authority for their eligibility criteria.
Just be aware, this doesn’t apply if the person receiving care is the partner of the carer, or is the carer’s child aged under 18.
If there are major changes to the value of your home
You may be able to get your home moved to a lower band if it has decreased in value. For example, if you have made home adaptations for a disabled person, or if a motorway has been built nearby.
You may also get the band lowered if a room in the house is dedicated to equipment used by a disabled person on a daily basis.
If you change the way you pay
Although the total year’s amount will stay the same, you can request your bill be split over 12 months instead of 10, so you can spread the cost and reduce your monthly outgoings.
Alternatively, if you can afford to pay the whole bill in one lump sum, check with your local council if you can get a discount.
Local councils
Contact your local council from the list below to apply for a Council Tax Reduction or discount.
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