A follower of Martin Lewis has successfully claimed a £600 council tax refund after discovering she was eligible for a 25% discount due to her daughter being a full-time student.
Karen shared her story with the MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) team, which featured it in this week's newsletter. She had been paying council tax for her daughter, unaware that full-time students are exempt and considered 'disregarded' for council tax purposes.
In England, households can receive a 25% discount if they live alone or with only people who are disregarded, such as students. Karen applied after reading an MSE article, obtaining proof of her daughter's student status from 2020 to 2023 from her college and submitting it to the local authority.
To qualify as a full-time student for council tax, the course must last at least one academic year, involve at least 24 weeks per year, and require a minimum of 21 hours of study or work experience per week during term time. Local councils typically require a certificate from the educational institution.
Households where all residents are students are entirely exempt from council tax. Those who believe they may be eligible should contact their local authority to apply for the discount or refund.
