Greenwich Council Tax Reduction: How to Apply Step by Step

Who Can Claim Council Tax Reduction in Greenwich

Greenwich runs its own Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme for working-age residents. You need to be the person legally liable for council tax at your address, living there as your main home, and your savings must be below £16,000.

The scheme splits into two tracks. Working-age applicants fall under Greenwich's local rules, which cap support at 80% of your bill — meaning you always pay at least 20%. Pension-age applicants follow national rules and can get up to 100% support, depending on income.

Mixed-age couples where one partner is under state pension age are treated as working-age unless they have been getting Pension Credit Guarantee continuously since before 15 May 2019.

How to Apply Online

Greenwich handles everything through its online portal at royalgreenwich.gov.uk. Here is the process:

1. Go to the "Apply for help to pay your Council Tax" section
2. Fill in your personal details, household composition, national insurance numbers, income, benefits, and capital
3. If you need to stop partway through, save your progress — but note that saving a draft does not protect your claim date. Your claim only counts from the day you actually submit
4. Submit the form and keep the electronic reference receipt
5. Upload your evidence during the application, or email documents to [email protected] within one calendar month

Your award normally starts on the Monday after Greenwich receives your completed application. If you submit within the same benefit week that your council tax liability begins, the award can start from the exact day liability kicked in.

What Evidence You Need

Greenwich requires proof across several categories. Have these ready before you start the form — incomplete evidence is the most common reason applications stall.

For identity and address: a valid passport, UK driving licence, or national identity card. A utility bill under three months old works as secondary proof.

For earned income: five consecutive weekly payslips, two monthly payslips, or three fortnightly ones. An employer letter confirming gross pay and hours also works.

For Universal Credit or other benefits: your latest full UC award statement showing the complete breakdown, plus DWP award letters for any disability benefits.

For savings: statements for every bank, building society, and ISA account covering the past two full months.

If you have non-dependant adults in your home, you will need their identity documents and proof of earnings or benefits too.

What Happens After You Apply

Greenwich issues a formal LCTS Decision Notice alongside an updated council tax demand bill. The notice breaks down your assessable income, applicable amounts, any non-dependant deductions, and the net weekly support credited to your account.

Keep paying your existing council tax bill while you wait. Stopping payments during the assessment period can trigger automated arrears notices and court cost additions. If your application succeeds, any overpayment gets credited back to your account or refunded.

Where to Get Help

If the online form feels overwhelming, you can get free face-to-face help at The Woolwich Centre (35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ). Greenwich also runs a network of Advice Hubs across the borough — drop-in sessions at The Forum in Greenwich, St Mary's in Eltham, Glyndon in Plumstead, and Clockhouse in Woolwich Dockyard, among others.

Citizens Advice Greenwich (020 8312 7311) provides independent benefit advice, including help with LCTS applications. The council's own Welfare Rights Service at The Woolwich Centre (020 8921 6375, Monday and Thursday mornings) handles specialist casework.

For a structured walkthrough of the entire process — from working out whether you qualify through to calculating your expected award and preparing your evidence — our Greenwich Council Tax Reduction guide covers every step, including the hardship fund application and appeal procedures.

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