School and college leavers

A person is disregarded for Council Tax purposes if:

• they are under the age of 20; and
• they have, after 30 April and before 1 November in any year, ceased to undertake a full-time course of education or a qualifying course of education

Young people leaving school or college, some of whom will be disregarded as students when courses begin in October each year, are not counted for Council Tax for a few weeks before becoming a student if they happen to have reached the age of 18.

The person will be disregarded until 1 November under any circumstances in the year of leaving school or college.

My son is taking A-Levels in the sixth form and is currently disregarded as I receive Child Benefit for him. His Child Benefit ends in the summer, and he intends to go to university in September. Does this disregard apply to him?

Yes. Your son will be disregarded as being in receipt of Child Benefit until the date it ends. He will then continue to be disregarded as a school leaver until 1 November, or the date that he qualifies for disregard as being a full time student at university.

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 someone 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