Cornwall Council Tax Reduction and Disability Premium — What Disabled Claimants Get

If you or your partner qualify for a disability premium, Cornwall Council's Council Tax Support scheme can give you a higher Applicable Amount — the baseline income figure the council uses to calculate your award. That higher baseline means more support and a lower bill. Here's how it works and what you need to claim it.

How Disability Premiums Affect Your Award

Cornwall uses a means-tested system. The council compares your household income against your Applicable Amount. The bigger the gap between that baseline and your actual income, the more support you get (up to the 75% cap).

Disability premiums are added on top of the standard personal allowance within your Applicable Amount. If you qualify for one, your baseline rises, which means either:

• Your income falls further below the threshold, giving you the maximum 75% award
• The 20% taper eats less of your entitlement because the excess-income figure is smaller

Some qualifying benefits include PIP and DLA, but the component and household circumstances matter. Ask Cornwall Council which premium applies to your claim, and include your current award letter as evidence.

Some households may also qualify for Enhanced or Severe Disability Premiums. Their criteria depend on the qualifying benefit and rate, who lives in the household, and whether someone receives Carer's Allowance for the disabled person; ask Cornwall Council to confirm which premium applies.

Non-Dependant Deduction Exemptions

Normally, if an adult relative or friend lives in your home, Cornwall Council deducts between £5.00 and £15.95 per week from your Council Tax Support award based on that person's income.

Disabled claimants are exempt from non-dependant deductions entirely if you or your partner receive:

• DLA care component (any rate)
• PIP daily living component (any rate)
• Attendance Allowance
• Or you are registered as severely sight-impaired (blind)

This exemption matters. A working adult child who works at least 16 hours a week and earns over £577 per week would normally cost you £15.95 per week — over £829 a year — off your award. With the disability exemption, that deduction disappears.

War Disablement Pension Income Disregard

If you receive a War Disablement Pension, War Widow's Pension, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments, Cornwall Council disregards 100% of that income in your Council Tax Support calculation. It simply doesn't count.

How to Claim the Disability Premium

You don't apply for the disability premium separately. When you submit your Council Tax Support application, include your current benefit award letter and ask Cornwall Council to check that any premium you qualify for is included.

If you think your award letter doesn't reflect the disability premium, request an internal review in writing. The Cornwall Council Tax Reduction guide includes an award audit worksheet that walks you through checking each line of your decision notice, including whether the correct premiums have been applied.

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