Somerset vs North Somerset vs Bath: Which Council Tax Reduction Scheme Applies to You?

Three separate councils cover the area most people think of as "Somerset" — and each runs its own Council Tax Reduction scheme with different rules, different income limits, and different maximum discounts. Applying to the wrong one wastes your time and delays your claim.

The Three Councils

Somerset Council covers the largest area: Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Frome, Glastonbury, and the surrounding rural areas. It was formed in April 2023 when the old county council merged with the four district councils (Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, and Somerset West & Taunton).

North Somerset Council is a completely separate unitary authority covering Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, Portishead, and Nailsea. Despite the name, it is not part of Somerset Council.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) covers Bath, Keynsham, and Midsomer Norton. Also an independent unitary authority with its own policies.

How the Schemes Differ

The differences are significant enough to change whether you qualify at all and how much you receive:

Somerset Council (2026/27):

• Income-banded scheme: 100%, 50%, 25%, or 10% discount
• Capital limit: £6,000 hard cut-off
• Band D property cap for Bands E–H
• Non-dependant deduction: £10/week flat
• Backdating: 3 months with good cause

North Somerset Council:

• Income-banded scheme with a maximum working-age discount capped at 67.5% (with proposals to adjust to 65.5%)
• Different capital rules and non-dependant deduction structure
• Different income band thresholds

Bath and North East Somerset:

• Multi-band system with capital limits up to £10,000 for non-UC claimants
• Separate Section 13A policy framework
• Independent administrative procedures

A single person with £120/week of assessable income after disregards would get a 50% discount in Somerset, but could receive a different percentage in North Somerset or B&NES under their separate rules.

How to Check Which Council You're In

Your council tax bill tells you which authority you're liable to. If you don't have a bill handy:

• Check your postcode on the GOV.UK "Find your local council" page
• Look at your council tax account number — Somerset Council accounts were reissued after the 2023 merger; if you still have an old Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, or Somerset West & Taunton reference, it now maps to Somerset Council
• Call Somerset Council on 0300 123 2224 if you're unsure

The boundaries aren't always obvious. Towns like Shepton Mallet are in Somerset Council's area; Weston-super-Mare (which feels like Somerset) is in North Somerset; Bath is B&NES. If you've recently moved within the region, double-check — your previous council's scheme doesn't follow you.

Why It Matters for Claims

Applying to the wrong council doesn't just delay your claim — the application goes nowhere. Somerset Council's online portal only handles claims for properties within its boundary. If you submit a claim for a North Somerset address, it won't be processed, and you'll need to start again with the correct authority.

The old district council portals (Mendip, Sedgemoor, etc.) all redirect to Somerset Council now, so there's no risk of accidentally applying to a defunct authority. But North Somerset and B&NES remain entirely separate systems with their own portals and their own rules.

Our Somerset Council Tax Reduction guide covers the Somerset Council scheme specifically — the income bands, disregards, hardship fund, and application process for residents within the Somerset Council boundary.

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