Lewisham Council Tax Care Leaver Discount Under 25

The Full Discount for Eligible Care Leavers

Lewisham offers eligible care leavers a discretionary council tax discount until their 25th birthday. The discount depends on who else lives in the property: if you live alone, claim the 25% Single Person Discount first, then Lewisham removes the remaining 75%; if you live with other people and all of them are care leavers, the household has no council tax to pay. Lewisham says no care-leaver discount is available if two or more people in the property are not care leavers. In 2025/26, 280 care leavers in the borough received this relief, worth a total of £392,000.

This is a local policy choice under Section 13A, not a statutory right that applies everywhere. Different boroughs offer different levels of support, and some don't offer any at all. Lewisham's scheme is one of the more generous in London.

Who Qualifies

You must be a "former relevant care leaver" — someone who was looked after by a local authority and has left care. Specifically:

• You were in the care of Lewisham Council (or another local authority)
• You are under 25 years old
• You are living in the London Borough of Lewisham

The discount is verified through Lewisham Children's Services. You don't need to go through the standard CTR application process — the verification happens internally once the council's benefits team confirms your care-leaver status with the children's services team.

If you were in care in a different borough but now live in Lewisham, you should still contact the council's benefits team. The policy covers care leavers residing in Lewisham, not only those originally in Lewisham's care.

How to Apply

Apply using Lewisham's care leaver discount form. The council says it aims to respond within 10 working days and verifies care-leaver status with Children's Services. Your personal adviser or leaving-care support worker can help you apply.

If approved, Lewisham updates your bill with the discount that applies to your household. If you live alone, claim the Single Person Discount first so the council can remove the remaining 75%.

What Happens at 25

The care leaver discount ends on your 25th birthday. From that date, you are assessed under the standard council tax rules. If you qualify for working-age Council Tax Reduction, it can cover up to 75% of your net liability, leaving at least 25% to pay. On a Band D charge before other discounts, that 25% is about £559 a year. If you're on a low income, apply for Council Tax Reduction before turning 25 to avoid a gap in support.

The transition can be financially jarring. If you qualify for CTR plus the Single Person Discount, the combined savings soften the landing, but planning ahead matters.

If you're approaching 25 and worried about the transition, Citizens Advice Lewisham and the council's own leaving-care team can help you apply for CTR and check for other discounts before the exemption expires.

The Lewisham Council Tax Reduction guide covers the full eligibility criteria for care leavers alongside the standard CTR scheme, so you can see both your current exemption and what your entitlement looks like once you age out.

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