How Much Council Tax Reduction Can You Get in Wiltshire

The Two-Track System

Wiltshire Council divides working-age CTR applicants into two groups, and which one you fall into determines whether you'll always have a bill to pay or could potentially pay nothing.

Standard (non-protected) group: Your maximum award is capped at 80% of your net council tax liability. Even if you have zero income and zero savings, you'll still pay at least 20% of your bill. This is the mandatory minimum payment.

Protected group: Your maximum award can reach 100% of your net liability — meaning your entire council tax bill could be covered. No minimum payment required.

Who Gets Protected Status

You qualify for the protected group if you, your partner, or a dependent child living in your household receives any of these:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — any component, any rate
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) — any component, any rate
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
• War Disablement Pension
• War Widow's or War Widower's Pension

One qualifying benefit in the household is enough. A child receiving DLA care component protects the whole household's CTR claim.

How the Numbers Work

The council calculates your award in steps:

1. Start with your gross annual council tax charge
2. Subtract any statutory discounts (like the 25% Single Person Discount)
3. Apply the 80% cap (standard group) or allow up to 100% (protected group)
4. Run the means test — compare your countable income against the applicable amount
5. Subtract non-dependant deductions for other adults in the household

Worked Example: Standard Group

A single worker in a Band B property in Trowbridge with an annual bill of £1,600. They receive Universal Credit with no earnings and have £1,200 in savings.

• 25% Single Person Discount brings the net liability to £1,200
• 80% maximum cap means the most CTR can cover is £960 per year
• Minimum payment: £240 per year (about £20 per month)

Worked Example: Protected Group

A lone parent in a Band C property in Salisbury with an annual bill of £1,850. They receive PIP daily living component and have £4,500 in savings.

• 25% Single Person Discount brings the net liability to £1,387.50
• PIP qualifies the household for protected status — no 80% cap
• Means test grants full coverage: £1,387.50 CTR award
• Remaining bill: £0

The Band D Restriction Cap

If you are a non-protected working-age applicant living in a Band E, F, G, or H property, there's an additional cap: your CTR award is calculated as if the property were Band D. You pay the difference between your actual band and Band D out of pocket, on top of any minimum payment.

This doesn't affect Bands A through D — if you're in Band D or below, the restriction doesn't apply.

What Reduces Your Award

Even within the 80% or 100% ceiling, your actual award depends on the means test. Two things commonly pull the number down:

Income above the applicable amount. If your countable income exceeds the applicable amount, the means-test taper reduces your award. A higher countable income above the applicable amount means a smaller CTR award.

Non-dependant deductions. Every adult living with you who isn't your partner, lodger, or joint tenant triggers a fixed weekly deduction from your award, based on their gross income. The deduction applies even if they don't contribute to household costs. Exception: no deductions are taken if you or your partner are registered blind or receive the care component of DLA, PIP daily living, or Attendance Allowance.

Calculate Your Position

The exact numbers depend on your specific household setup — income, band, discounts, and who lives with you. Our Wiltshire Council Tax Reduction guide includes an award calculation worksheet that walks through the full formula with your own figures, plus three worked examples covering single UC recipients, disabled parents, and working couples near the capital limit.

See more England guides →