You’re not the first person to ask us this! Here’s why your Council Tax Support has stopped, and what you need to do next.

When you move to Universal Credit (UC) from your old benefits, your Council Tax Support won’t carry on automatically. Although you’ll be asked if you have any Council Tax discounts when you apply for Universal Credit, UC doesn’t include financial help with Council Tax. This is because the council manage Council Tax Support, whereas UC is administered by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP).

Usually, you should continue to receive Council Tax Support temporarily for two weeks after making your UC claim, but you’ll need to take steps to continue receiving it after the two-week run-on ends.  

If you’re in the process of moving to UC, you might be able to keep your Council Tax Support claim open by letting the council know you’ve applied for UC and the date you made your claim. If your Council Tax Support has already been stopped, you’ll need to reapply on Plymouth City Council’s website: www.plymouth.gov.uk/council-tax-support. Alternatively, you can call the council on 01752 668000 during opening hours if you can’t complete the online form.

Remember that if you’re better off on UC or your circumstances have changed, the amount of support you’re entitled to may not be the same. This is because there are different levels of help available, depending on your situation.  

If you end up paying more Council Tax, or you’re finding it difficult to keep up with payments, check the council’s website or contact us to see if you could get any other discounts or exemptions. Remember that Council Tax is a priority bill, so missed payments can lead to serious consequences. If you think you won’t be able to pay your next bill, contact the council as soon as you can to discuss possible solutions, like an Exceptional Hardship Payment.  

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to manage the move to Universal Credit or deal with budgeting worries alone. For more support with making a new Universal Credit claim team speak to our Help to Claim team, or give us a call on 0808 278 7910 for advice on any of the other issues mentioned.