The ‘exempt all pensioners from council tax’ petition, published on the Petitions Parliament website, declares: “We believe council tax is increasingly unaffordable. Many pensioners often rely on a fixed income and face growing living costs, which may exacerbate financial pressures while pensioners continue to struggle.

“We believe exempting all pensioners from council tax isn’t just compassionate but is also fiscally responsible. We believe it could provide relief to a vulnerable demographic and help uphold public services by ensuring fairer funding models.”

Should the petition secure 10,000 signatures, it will qualify for a written response from the UK Government. Should it achieve 100,000 signatures, the Petitions Committee will evaluate whether to schedule a Parliamentary debate – and you can view the complete petition here.

The closing date for adding signatures to the petition is 28 February this year.

Council tax regulations in the UK

According to the government, council tax is typically payable if you’re aged 18 or above. The gov.uk website states that a full charge “is based on at least 2 adults living in a home”.

Couples living together share joint responsibility for settling the payment, officials say. However, certain individuals aren’t included when determining the number of occupants in a property for council tax calculations.

In official terms, these people are ‘disregarded’.

Consequently, you may qualify to request a reduction on your charge if you fall into this category. You are not counted if you are:

• a student nurse
• a full-time student at college or university
• on certain apprentice schemes
• under 18 years old
• severely mentally impaired
• a live-in carer for someone who is not your partner, spouse, or child under 18
• under 25 years old and get funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency
• 18 or 19 years old and in full-time education
• a diplomat
• a foreign language assistant registered with the British Council

Requesting a council tax reduction or exemption

Nevertheless, even if you appear on that list, you must submit an application for a reduction or exemption. The government states you’ll receive a 50 per cent reduction if all household members are ‘disregarded’.

You’ll receive a 25 per cent reduction if you’re liable for council tax and either all other occupants are ‘disregarded’ or you reside alone.

Apprentices may also qualify for reductions. To demonstrate that you’re exempt from paying council tax, you’ll require a declaration from your employer confirming that:

• you will not get in excess of £195 a week
• the training leads to a qualification accredited by a body recognised by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) or the Scottish Vocational Education Council (SVEC)

For further information, get in touch with your local council.