Plymouth Council Tax Support Minimum Payment Explained

The 20% Rule

Under Plymouth's 2026/27 Council Tax Support scheme, the maximum discount any working-age claimant can receive is 80% of their eligible Council Tax liability. That means even at the highest level of support — Band 1, the lowest income bracket — you still pay at least 20% of your bill.

This wasn't always the case. Before April 2013, the national Council Tax Benefit scheme could cover up to 100% of a working-age household's bill. When the government localised council tax support and cut funding by 10%, Plymouth (like most English councils) introduced a minimum payment to bridge the gap.

Pension-age claimants are unaffected — the national scheme still covers up to 100% of their bill.

What the 20% Costs in Practice

On a typical Band B property in Plymouth with a single person discount, the net eligible liability is roughly £23 per week. An 80% discount covers about £18.50 of that, leaving around £4.60 per week — approximately £240 per year — that you're responsible for.

For a couple or family without the single person discount, the full Band B liability is higher, so the 20% minimum is larger: closer to £6 per week, or around £320 per year.

These aren't large sums in isolation, but for a household whose income is low enough to qualify for Band 1 support, an extra £240–£320 a year on top of existing bills can be the difference between managing and falling into arrears.

The Band E Cap Adds Another Layer

If your property is in Band F, G, or H, Plymouth calculates your CTS as though you live in a Band E property. You then pay the full difference between your actual band and Band E, plus the 20% minimum on the Band E rate.

For someone in a Band G property, this can mean a substantial residual bill even with maximum CTS. The 20% minimum is only the floor — the band cap pushes the actual payment much higher for higher-banded properties.

Help With the Shortfall

If you have an active CTS award and still can't afford the remaining balance, Plymouth's Exceptional Hardship Fund (EHF) may bridge the gap. The EHF is a discretionary fund under Section 13A(1)(c) — it provides short-term grants toward the council tax you can't pay after CTS is applied.

The catch: you must already hold a live CTS award to qualify. If your CTS application was refused, you can't access the hardship fund.

To apply, call 01752 668000 or use the council's online EHF form. You'll need to provide a full income-and-expenditure breakdown showing that after essential costs, you genuinely can't cover the remaining council tax.

Spreading the Cost

Even without the EHF, you have a statutory right to spread your annual Council Tax bill across 12 monthly instalments instead of the default 10. This reduces each monthly payment — it doesn't change the total, but it eases the monthly cash flow. You can request 12-month billing directly through Plymouth City Council's billing portal before May of the financial year.

The Plymouth Council Tax Reduction Guide explains how the 20% minimum interacts with Plymouth's income bands, the Band E cap, and the Exceptional Hardship Fund — with worked examples showing your actual liability by property band and household type.

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