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European Parliamentary Elections

Information about the European Election can be found on our election pages. Counting will take place on Sunday 26 May and the local result will be given afterwards by the East Devon Returning Officer and posted on our website. The overall result for the South West and Gibraltar region will be declared by BCP Council at the Civic Centre in Poole later on Sunday evening.

5. How we calculate your Council Tax Support

We compare your income to how much the government says that you and your family need to live on each week - this is called your applicable amount.

An applicable amount is made up of either personal allowances or a combination of personal allowances and premiums. Which of these apply to your claim will depend on your age, circumstances and who is in your household.

Personal allowances

These are paid to you for the people in your household. The amounts paid depend on your age, whether you are single, a lone parent, part of a couple (whether married or living together or a civil partner) or have children. There are also special rates if you are entitled to main phase employment and support allowance.

Your household includes your partner, and any dependent child or qualifying young person living with you. A dependent child is a child under 16 years of age. A qualifying young person is someone who is under 20 years of age and either in full-time, non-advanced education or approved training which began before he or she was 19 years of age.

Premiums

Your applicable amount is increased with premiums if you meet certain conditions. You can get any or all of the following premiums if you qualify for:

Carer premium - You or your partner must be entitled to Carer's Allowance even if you are not paid it because you receive another benefit. This premium is payable for each person who qualifies.

Disabled Child premium - You must have a dependent child or qualifying young person under 20 years of age who is getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or who is registered blind. The premium is paid for each child who qualifies.

Enhanced Disability premium - You or your partner must satisfy one of the following:

1. be in the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) support group

2. be under the qualifying age for pension credit and receiving the high rate care component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

3. you are the claimant and you have been incapable of work or entitled to statutory sick pay during the qualifying period of 52 weeks (or 28 weeks if you are terminally ill) and are still incapable of work.

If you have a partner you will be paid the couple rate of this premium.

Deductions

Deductions can be made from your Council Tax Support due to non-dependents living with you. A non-dependent person is someone who lives with you (other than your partner), such as an adult son, daughter, relative or friend. So, for example, if you have another adult living with you they will be expected to contribute to your household bills including Council Tax. Therefore we will deduct an amount (depending on their income) for that person from your Council Tax Support. This means that you will receive less Council Tax Support.

Many non-dependants have circumstances that mean there is no deduction taken. For example if they are:

under 18 years old,

a full-time student,

in receipt of Pension Credit

receiving Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance (Income Based) or Income Related Employment and Support Allowance.

Additionally, non-dependant deductions are not made to Council Tax Support if the customer or their partner:

are registered blind

get Attendance Allowance

get the care component of Disability Living Allowance

get the Daily Living Component of Personal Independence Payments

No deductions are made in respect of carers provided by a charitable or voluntary organisation.