County Durham Single Person Discount and Lone Parent Council Tax Help

The 25% Single Person Discount

If you are the only adult living in your property in County Durham, you are entitled to a 25% discount on your council tax bill. This is a national statutory discount — it is not means-tested, it has no income limit, and it does not require you to be on benefits. You simply need to be the sole adult resident.

Children under 18 do not count as adults for this purpose. Neither do full-time students, people who are severely mentally impaired, live-in carers providing at least 35 hours of care per week, or certain other "disregarded" persons. So a lone parent living with children under 18 automatically qualifies for the 25% discount.

To apply, contact Durham County Council on 03000 26 0000 or apply online through the council's website. You will need to confirm your household composition. The council periodically reviews single person discount claims using data matching (the National Fraud Initiative), so make sure to report any changes if another adult moves in.

How Single Person Discount and CTR Stack Together

The single person discount and Council Tax Reduction are two separate reductions that apply to the same bill, and they stack. CTR is calculated on your net liability — that is, your council tax bill after the single person discount has already been deducted.

Here is what that looks like in practice. Suppose your Band A property has an annual council tax of £1,300. The 25% single person discount reduces that to £975. If you then qualify for Band 1 CTR (90% discount), the reduction is 90% of £975 = £877.50. Your remaining bill is £97.50 for the entire year — roughly £8.13 per month.

Without the single person discount, your CTR would be 90% of £1,300 = £1,170, leaving you to pay £130 annually. The discount saves you an extra £32.50 per year even when you are already receiving the standard 90% CTR award.

Lone Parents and Council Tax Reduction

As a lone parent in County Durham, you are very likely eligible for both the single person discount and council tax reduction. Here is how the scheme treats your income:

DWP benefits are disregarded. Universal Credit and DWP disability benefits are fully disregarded in Durham's income calculation. If the only income counted under the scheme is disregarded, your assessed weekly income is £0 — Band 1, 90% discount.

Childcare costs are deductible. If you work and pay verified, qualifying childcare costs, up to £175 per week for one child or £300 per week for two or more children can be deducted from your net earnings before the income band assessment.

The £25 earnings disregard applies. The first £25 of your combined weekly net earnings (after tax, NI, and pension contributions) is disregarded.

A worked example, assuming capital below £6,000 and no other countable income: you are a lone parent working part-time, earning £160 net per week, paying £120 per week in childcare for one child. Your assessed income is £160 minus £120 (childcare) minus £25 (earnings disregard) = £15 per week. That places you in Band 1 for a 90% discount, even though your actual take-home is £160.

Applying for Both

You apply for the single person discount and CTR separately, but through the same council. If you are applying for CTR, mention that you are the only adult in the property — the council should ensure the single person discount is also applied.

The evidence requirements for CTR are straightforward: payslips (if working), bank statements for two recent months, your council tax bill, and proof of identity. Childcare costs need verification too — a letter from your childcare provider or nursery invoices.

If you receive CTR, report material changes in household circumstances to Durham County Council within 21 days. The one-month CTR application window applies when you first become liable for Council Tax or after notifying the DWP of your intention to claim Universal Credit.

What If Your Partner Has Left Recently

If your partner has just moved out and you are now the sole adult, tell Durham County Council promptly. For CTR, material household changes must be reported within 21 days. The single person discount should take effect from the date your partner left, and your CTR may also need reassessing since your household income will have changed.

If there is a gap where you should have been receiving the single person discount but were not, ask the council to review your account and confirm how far back it can apply the discount.

For a full walkthrough of how Durham's income bands, disregards, and deductions work together for lone parent households, the County Durham Council Tax Reduction guide covers the complete picture.

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