Non-British spouses of students

A person is disregarded for Council Tax purposes if:

• they are the spouse or dependant of a student and
• they are not a British citizen and are prevented by immigration rules from “taking paid employment or from claiming benefits”

An all-student household is exempt from Council Tax, including dwellings where a student has a foreign spouse or dependant living with them.

My partner is prevented from receiving benefits but may take paid employment. Do they qualify for disregard?

Yes: to qualify for disregard the spouse or dependant may be prevented from either taking paid employment or receiving benefits.

Should you qualify for the reduction you must tell us within 21 days about any change in circumstances that may affect your entitlement to the discount (e.g. another person moves into the property or the spouse leaves). Failure to do so may result in a penalty.

We will contact you periodically to confirm that you are still entitled to the disregard; however, you must still advise us of any changes in circumstance within 21 days.

If you want to apply or have a question

Use the Council Tax contact form and choose the following options:

• Under which service would you like to contact us? Select Council Tax
• What would you like to contact us about? Select Something else