How to Apply for Council Tax Reduction in Leicester: Forms, Documents and Steps

Where to Apply

All applications go through Leicester City Council's online portal at openportal.leicester.gov.uk. You can also access it by logging into your MyAccount on the council website. There is no paper form — the council requires electronic submission.

When you reach the portal, select "Start a new form" to begin a combined application covering both Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit. If you already have an active claim and need to report a change, do not start a new form — use the "Report a change of circumstances" option instead, or email [email protected] directly.

If you need help filling in the online form, Leicester's Customer Service Centre at York House (91 Granby Street) and the Best Start Family Hubs in Beaumont Leys, Belgrave, and Highfields offer assisted access.

Documents You Need Before Starting

Your application is not complete until Leicester City Council has verified your supporting evidence. Missing a single document can stall processing for six to eight weeks — or result in your claim being refused. Gather everything before you begin.

Identity: valid passport, UK photocard driving licence, or national identity card. Alternatives include a birth certificate, biometric residence permit, or official Home Office documentation.

National Insurance number: HMRC tax documentation, P60, P45, or a DWP benefit entitlement letter. A payslip showing your NI number also works.

Income proof: five consecutive weekly payslips, three fortnightly payslips, or two monthly payslips. If you are self-employed, provide certified accountant statements or formal income and expense records.

Universal Credit: a full UC statement from your online journal showing the breakdown of every element — standard allowance, housing costs, child elements, LCWRA, carer element. The council needs to see each component separately.

Capital and savings: two consecutive months of complete bank statements for every account you hold (current accounts, savings accounts, ISAs). Building society passbooks, share certificates, and premium bond statements also count.

Household composition: birth certificates for dependent children, and proof of student status for anyone in full-time education. Official Child Benefit notification or a college/university enrolment letter serve as alternatives.

When Your Entitlement Starts

Your Council Tax Support generally begins on the Monday following the date Leicester City Council receives your electronic claim. There is one exception: if you have just become liable for Council Tax at a new Leicester address and apply within one calendar month of moving in, your entitlement starts from the exact date your liability began.

This timing matters. Every week between moving in and applying is a week at full council tax. Apply as early as possible — ideally the same week you become liable.

Reporting Changes Within 21 Days

Once your claim is active, you are legally required to report any change in circumstances to Leicester City Council within 21 days. Reportable changes include:

• A rise or fall in your earnings
• A change to your Universal Credit award
• Someone moving in or out of your home
• Your savings going above £6,000
• A change in disability benefit status
• Moving to a different address

Report changes through the council portal or by emailing [email protected]. Reporting to the DWP for Universal Credit purposes does not count — the council is a separate authority and needs its own notification.

If you delay reporting and the council overpays your support, the excess is added back to your council tax account as a revised bill. Prompt reporting protects you from unexpected charges.

What Happens After You Apply

The council reviews your evidence and assigns your household to an income band. If anything is missing, they will contact you — but the clock stops until the evidence arrives. A straightforward claim with all documents attached typically processes within a few weeks. Complex cases or those requiring additional verification take longer.

Once approved, the discount appears on a revised council tax demand notice, and your remaining monthly instalments adjust automatically.

For a full evidence preparation checklist and a step-by-step walkthrough of the application, the Leicester Council Tax Reduction guide covers every document, every portal screen, and the exact income calculation the council runs on your figures.

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