Plymouth Council Tax Reduction for Single Parents
Which Income Band Table Applies to You
Plymouth uses different income band tables depending on your household composition, and the rules for families with children hinge on two factors: how many children you have and whether any are under five.
One child aged 5 or over:
| Band | Net Weekly Income | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 – £262.99 | 80% |
| 2 | £263.00 – £328.99 | 60% |
| 3 | £329.00 – £457.99 | 40% |
| 4 | £458.00 – £589.99 | 20% |
| 5 | £590.00+ | 0% |
Child under 5, or multiple children:
| Band | Net Weekly Income | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 – £328.99 | 80% |
| 2 | £329.00 – £392.99 | 60% |
| 3 | £393.00 – £523.99 | 40% |
| 4 | £524.00 – £718.99 | 20% |
| 5 | £719.00+ | 0% |
The difference is significant. A lone parent with a 4-year-old can earn up to £328.99 per week and still get the maximum 80% discount. Once that child turns 5, the Band 1 ceiling drops to £262.99 — the same income that kept you at 80% suddenly puts you in Band 2 at 60%.
If you have two or more children aged 5 and over, you get the more generous table (the same as the under-5 table). It's specifically single-child households with an older child that get the tightest thresholds.
Income Disregards That Help Single Parents
Several income sources are fully excluded from Plymouth's assessment:
- Child Benefit — completely disregarded, regardless of how many children
- Child Maintenance — doesn't count as income at all
- Childcare cost deductions — eligible childcare costs are deducted from your earnings before the band assessment
- PIP, DLA, Carer's Allowance — if you receive any of these, they're also excluded
If you're a lone parent on Universal Credit, the Housing Costs element is removed before the council converts your UC to a weekly income figure. Only your net assessed income after all these disregards determines your band.
The Single Person Discount Interaction
As the only adult in your household, you qualify for the 25% Single Person Discount on your Council Tax bill. This is applied before Council Tax Support is calculated, so CTS is assessed on the already-reduced liability.
On a Band B property, this typically reduces your weekly liability from around £30.77 to about £23.08. Your CTS percentage then applies to that lower figure. Combined, the single person discount plus an 80% CTS award leaves you paying roughly £4.62 per week.
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When Children Affect Your Status
Watch for these transition points:
Child turning 5 — if they're your only child, you move to the less generous income band table. Your Band 1 ceiling drops by £66 per week.
Child turning 18 — they may become a non-dependant adult, triggering a £4.90 weekly deduction from your CTS (unless you or your partner receives PIP Daily Living, DLA Care at the middle or highest rate, or Attendance Allowance, which waives the deduction). Report this change within 21 days.
Second child — moves you to the more generous table with higher band thresholds, even if both children are over 5.
Each of these changes needs to be reported to Plymouth City Council separately from any DWP notification.
The Plymouth Council Tax Reduction Guide includes worked examples for every family configuration — showing exactly how your income, the single person discount, and your CTS band interact to determine what you actually pay each month.
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Download the Plymouth Council Tax Reduction Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.