Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough Council Tax Reduction: It's All North Northamptonshire Now

One Council, One Scheme

Since 1 April 2021, the old borough and district councils of Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, and East Northamptonshire no longer exist. They were merged into North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) — a single unitary authority covering the entire area.

That means wherever you live — Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Rushden, Oundle, Thrapston, Desborough, Rothwell, Burton Latimer, Raunds, Irthlingborough, or any surrounding village — you're under the same Council Tax Reduction scheme with the same rules, the same application process, and the same council handling your claim.

Why This Matters

Before the merger, each old council ran its own local scheme with different rules. Searching for "Kettering council tax support" or "Corby council tax reduction" now takes you to the same NNC pages — but the old terminology persists in search engines, council redirect links, and local word of mouth.

The confusion is real. If someone in Rushden told you to apply through "East Northants Council," that council doesn't exist anymore. If a Corby landlord handed you a leaflet about the old Corby Borough scheme, those rules no longer apply.

Everything is now handled by North Northamptonshire Council, online at northnorthants.gov.uk.

The Rules That Apply Everywhere

Regardless of whether your address falls in the old Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, or East Northamptonshire boundaries, the same scheme applies:

• Maximum support: 75% of your council tax liability under the standard working-age CTR scheme
• Minimum payment: 25% of your net liability under standard CTR; separate Section 13A discounts may lower the remaining balance in eligible cases
• Savings cap: Capital above £16,000 disqualifies you from standard working-age CTR
• Income taper: 20% of excess income above the applicable amount is deducted from your award
• Band D rate: £1,918.23 for 2026/27 (before parish precepts, which vary by area)

The only variation across the area is parish precepts — the amounts charged by individual parish and town councils on top of the main bill. They vary by parish and are part of your total council tax liability, which CTR is calculated against.

How to Apply

One application process for everyone:

1. Go to northnorthants.gov.uk and navigate to the Benefits section
2. Create an account and complete the online Council Tax Support form
3. Upload your evidence — bank statements, wage slips, identity documents

Can't apply online? Call NNC on 0300 126 3000 or visit a service centre:

• Kettering: Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road
• Corby, Wellingborough, Thrapston: NNC public service centres in local libraries and municipal buildings

Getting Help Locally

Free advice is available at:

• Citizens Advice — offices in Kettering, Corby, and Wellingborough
• Accommodation Concern — housing and benefit advice in Kettering
• Community Law Service (Northamptonshire) — welfare rights legal advice across the area

These organisations all understand the current NNC scheme and can help with applications, evidence preparation, and appeals.

Don't Be Misled by Old Information

If you find a website, leaflet, or forum post referring to "Kettering Borough Council" or "Corby Borough Council" council tax support schemes — that information is out of date. Any rules, forms, or contact details from before April 2021 are obsolete.

The only current information comes from NNC directly (northnorthants.gov.uk) or from advice services that reference the current 2026/27 scheme.

For a complete walkthrough of the North Northamptonshire scheme — eligibility, calculation, evidence requirements, backdating, hardship relief, and appeals — see the Council Tax Reduction guide for North Northamptonshire.

See more England guides →