Sandwell Council Tax Third Party Authorisation — Letting Someone Act on Your Behalf

Why You Might Need a Third Party Authorisation

Sandwell Council will only discuss your Council Tax Reduction claim with you — the named taxpayer — unless you've formally authorised someone else. That's a problem if you're unwell, have limited English, struggle with phone queues, or simply need a family member or support worker to handle things on your behalf.

The council enforces this strictly. A parent ringing about their adult child's CTR claim, a carer trying to chase a missing assessment, or a welfare rights adviser attempting to get case details will all be turned away without written authorisation on file. No exceptions, even if the caller clearly knows the account details.

How to Set Up Authorisation

You need to submit Sandwell Council's Third Party Authorisation Form. Contact the Revenues and Benefits helpline on 0121 569 7474 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:45am to 5pm; Wednesday 9am to 5pm) to ask how to obtain and submit it.

Have these details ready when you request or complete the form:

• Your full name, address, and Council Tax account reference
• The authorised person's full name, address, and relationship to you
• What they're allowed to do — discuss your account, provide documents, receive correspondence, or all of these
• Your signature (or electronic confirmation through the portal)

Once processed, the authorised contact can speak to the council about your CTR claim. The form's permissions determine whether they can also submit evidence or receive copies of assessment notices, so confirm this with Sandwell.

What an Authorised Contact Can't Do

Authorisation lets someone communicate with the council about your claim; it doesn't transfer liability. The form sets the scope of that authority, so check with Sandwell before assuming your representative can change account details, redirect refunds, or sign an application on your behalf.

If you need someone to manage your finances more broadly (not just council tax), you'd need a Power of Attorney registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. That's a separate legal process and covers far more than council tax.

Common Situations Where This Matters

Adult children helping elderly parents. Even if a parent is pension-age and assessed under national CTR rules rather than Sandwell's local working-age scheme, the authorisation requirement still applies. An adult child who pays council tax bills from their parent's account can't get information about the CTR claim without the form.

Support workers and welfare rights advisers. Citizens Advice Sandwell, the council's own Welfare Rights Team (0121 569 3158), and housing association support workers all need this form before they can advocate effectively. Getting it submitted early avoids weeks of back-and-forth.

Carers of disabled residents. If you're caring for someone who receives PIP or DLA and they qualify for CTR, the claim process involves uploading evidence, monitoring income band changes, and responding to review forms within tight deadlines. An authorised contact can help with council communications; check whether the form also permits them to submit documents or reply to reviews.

Get It Done Before You Need It

The best time to submit a Third Party Authorisation is alongside the initial CTR application, not after a problem surfaces. Once the council has the form on file, your representative can discuss the claim and help chase an update; confirm whether the authority also covers evidence uploads.

Our Sandwell Council Tax Reduction guide includes a section on setting up third party access alongside the main application, so nothing gets missed.

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