Disputing your Council Tax Reduction award

Disputes - first stage

Where an individual is dissatisfied with the council tax reduction decision made by their local authority they can, provided it is done within two months of that decision, seek a review of the decision by writing to their local authority requesting a review.  A review of eligibility for council tax reduction will consider the amount of income a person has with the amount that a person needs to live on (their applicable amount) this will vary depending on the circumstances of the individual and their dependants.  

The request for review must state the reasons why the individual thinks the council tax reduction decision is incorrect.  The local authority must consider the request and reply with their decision in writing within 2 months.  In West Lothian a request for a review of council tax reduction should be sent to West Lothian Council Revenues Unit, West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6FF.

Further Review

If after receiving the review decision, the customer remains dissatisfied then they can seek an independent ruling from the Local Taxation Chamber who will conduct a further review.

The Local Taxation Chamber replaces the Council Tax Reduction Review Panel from 1st April 2023 and will adjudicate on any disputes that take place involving council tax reduction awarded from 01 April 2023. It is an independent body which is an addition to the Scottish Tribunals Service, providing an additional review service to safeguard individual's rights to administrative justice when assessing an individual's eligibility for Council Tax Reduction.   They will consider the facts presented to them and give an independent ruling as to whether the decision made by the local authority is correct or not.

A further review by the Local Taxation Chamber can only be requested after the relevant local authority has carried out an internal review. 

The only exception to this is if the council fails to respond in writing, within two months of the request for review of the decision being made. If this occurs the individual or their representative can request in writing an independent ruling from the Local Taxation Chamber.

When notified by the Local Taxation Chamber of a further review the Local Authority will forward their decision regarding the review and the supporting documentation to the Local Taxation Chamber.  This includes copies of the notification of the local authority review, issued to the applicant, responses to that notice, relevant extracts from the applicant's Council Tax Reduction application, summary of response to review and any other supporting communications.

The Local Authority will also forward a copy of the documentation they are submitting to the Local Taxation Chamber to the applicant at this time, prior to the hearing.               

An application for further review should be made directly by the individual applicant or their representative in writing to the:

Local Taxation Chamber, 1st Floor, Bothwell House, Hamilton Business Park, Caird Park, Hamilton, ML3 0QA Tel: 01698 390012 or Email: LTCAdmin@scotcourts.gov.uk 

Further information, is available on the Local Taxation Chamber website (opens new window) or by telephoning Tel: 01698390012.

Further information regarding Council Tax Reduction, how it works, FAQs and Reviews are also available via the Scottish Government website. (opens new window)