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Council Tax bill explained

In this section

This section provides information on how Council Tax works, how much you pay to who and how we spend your money. You’ll also find practical guidance on bills, reductions, and the support schemes available if you are struggling to pay your bill.

Our budget 2026/2027

Below are the key announcements from our budget for the 2026/2027 financial year. You can read our budget papers for more information on how we will spend your money over the next 12 months to make our district an even better place to live, work and visit.

Budget 2026/27 - key announcements

Wychavon's Council Tax frozen again!

Our share of the Council Tax bill for 2026/27 will once again be frozen - the seventh time in nine years we have kept our part of the bill on hold.

This means from April 2026, the average B and D household will still pay just £128.21 for our servcies - for everything from award-winning parks and toilets to mutli-million pound investments in our communities and economy.

That's under £2.47 a week - less than the price of the average takeaway coffee on the high street.

It will maintain Wychavon’s position as the district council with the fourth lowest Council Tax in the country. Overall Council Tax bills will still rise though because other organisations have increased their part of the bill. Read on to find out more.

An ice cube with the words Wychavon Council Tax in it A close up shot of UK pound coins and notes

We are Wychavon Fund

As well as freezing our share of the Council Tax, we have also announced a £5 million We Are Wychavon Fund. Over the next two years this money will fund a range of schemes to that encourage residents to be more active, health prevention, boosting skills, business growth, young people, wellness and connectivity. Details are being developed and will be released over the coming weeks.

This is our way of showing our support for residents and businesses when times are tough and living costs are rising. We are able to do this because of decades of sensible financial management and wise investments in projects that deliver a return for taxpayers'.

More for services

Our budget for 2026/27 will be one of the most ambitious yet with an extra £3.7 million set to be spent delivering all the servcies you rely on from April.

On top of that, we have made further funding available for significant investment across a range of projects.

These include: £400,000 for community grants, an extra £412,000 to support the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, up to £4 million to decarbonise Pershore and Evesham Leisure Centres (energy-efficiency is already being upgraded at Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre) and £100,000 for energy efficiency schemes for community buildings and biodiversity improvements for communities.

A group of people with certificates in a toilet The outside of the Riverside Shopping Centre in Evesham

Major investment

We have also made multi-million pound commitments to major regeneration and wellbeing projects across the district.  These include the regneration of the Riverside Shopping Centre site in Evesham, which will kick-start the transformation of Evesham Town Centre.

During 2026/27 we will also finish the upgrade of Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre and major investment is planned in the town's lido.

Who do I pay council Tax to?

You pay Council Tax to different organisations, each one charges a different amount for their services. These different amounts are added together to make your total Council Tax bill.  You can see the breakdown for each organisation on your bill. Wychavon is responsible for collecting the money from all residents and passing it on to these other organisations.

That's why even though we have chosen to freeze our share of the Council Tax bill for 2026/27, because other organisations have increased their share of Council Tax, your overall bill will be more than last year. 

In this area you pay Council Tax to the following organisations:

Wychavon District Council

We keep just 5p in every pound you give us in Council Tax. This funds services including waste and recycling collections, planning services, business support, housing, parks, public toilets, elections, community safety and much more.

Worcestershire County Council

74p in every pound you pay goes to Worcestershire County Council to provides services for the whole county like adult and children’s social care, road and path maintenance, home to school transport and waste disposal.

Find out more about how Worcestershire County Council spends your Council Tax.

Town/parish council

Provide community specific services. Exactly what each council does varies from place to place but services can include managing community assets like village halls, allotments, cemetery management and burial space provision.

spreadsheet View how much your parish or town council charges for their part of the Council Tax bill for 2026/27 (29 KB) .

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner

You will pay 13p in every pound to the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner. This is to help fight crime and keep communities safe.

Read the Budget on the West Mercia PCC website

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

The fire service gets 5p out of every pound of Council Tax. Your money helps to support the work of this service including tackling fires, dealing with road traffic collisions and responding to major emergencies like flooding.

Find out more about how Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spends your Council Tax.

How much will my Council Tax bill be this year?

Your bill will tell you how much you have to pay for services for 2026/27. Bills will be going out in early March 2026. If you can't wait then you can  spreadsheet download our list of Council Tax charges by parish and town council 2026/27. (6 KB). (32 KB)

The charges shown assume that no discounts or exemptions apply. To see if you or the property would qualify for a discount or exemption, please go to our Council Tax discounts and exemptions page.

You may also be entitled to a reduction by qualifying for benefit.  Please go to our Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit pages for more information.

If you cannot find the information you require then please contact our Council Tax team.

You can also check your Council Tax band and the annual charge for your property using Wychavon's My Local Area search. This information will also be on your Council Tax bill.

If you are unsure which band a property is in you can find out by going to the Valuation Office Agency website and searching the Council Tax lists pages.

Help to pay your Council Tax bill

Depending on your circumstances you may qualify for help with paying your Council Tax bill. Visit our Council Tax Support page for more information.

You may also qualify for certain discounts and exemptions on your Council Tax bill..

Get your Council Tax bill by email or pay online

You can now get your Council Tax bill straight to your inbox as well as make payments online. Sign up for a Council Tax self-service account.

Find your Council Tax band

You can check your Council Tax band or rate using My Local Area by putting in your postcode into the database.

Challenge your Council Tax valuation

If you think you have been placed in the wrong Council Tax band then you can challenge it by contacting the Valuation Office Agency. We do not deal with Council Tax band appeals or challenges.

Visit challenge your council tax band on the Government's website for more information on how to do this. 

You can also find more information on Wychavon's appeal your Council Tax page.

Read more …Council Tax bill explained

Moving house

In this section

Help us go paper free! If you contact us by email or provide us with an email address, all future correspondence from this department will be sent to you by email.

If you or your tenants are moving in or out of a property please let us know so we can update your Council Tax information. You can find out how to do this using the links below:

If you are new to Wychavon

Welcome to our district. Please complete a moving in form.

Moving within the area

If you currently pay Council Tax to Wychavon, Malvern Hills or Worcester City (or have done so in the past) and are moving to another address within Wychavon, Malvern Hills or Worcester City where you will be liable for the Council Tax please complete the moving within the area form.

Moving out of the area

If you are moving out of the Wychavon, Malvern Hills or Worcester City area or will not be liable for Council Tax at your new address please complete the moving out of the area form. If you currently pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit we recommend you contact your bank and cancel the Direct Debit immediately.

With effect from 1 April 2023, if you are paying your Council Tax by direct debit and move out of the area or your account is closed, any credit on the account, once the amendment has been made, will be refunded to the bank account being used to make your payments from. We will only refund a credit if there is no outstanding Council Tax due on any other accounts in your name.

Change of tenancy

If you are a landlord and wish to tell us about a change of tenants in your property please use the change of tenancy form.

Electoral Register

When you move house you need to re-register to vote at your new address. This is very easy to do on the Government website here Register to vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or you can phone our elections team on 01386 565437 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Garden waste service

Please let us know by clicking on the link if you already have the service and are moving within or out of the district, or if you move into a property where there is already a brown bin (as this is a chargeable service). Find out more about our Garden waste collection service.

Changing your name or changes to household

Let us know if you change your name or changes to your household so that we can update your Council Tax bill with the correct details. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the information.

Other changes

If there are other changes such as an adult leaving or joining your household then please complete a Council Tax change of circumstances form to tell us.

If you are currently receiving benefits

If you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support and would like to report a change in circumstances, let us know by completing one of our change in circumstance forms.

If you need help completing a form

If you need help filling in a Council Tax, benefits or Change of Circumstances form then visit one of our Customer Contact Centres and our customer service team can help. Visit our Contact Us page for information on Customer Contact Centre opening hours.

Or you can call our revenues and benefits team on 03004 560560.

Read more …Moving house

Universal Credit

In this section

Universal Credit is a benefit introduced by the Government to help people of working-age with living costs.

It's available to you if you:

  • are on a low income
  • are out of work
  • are unable to work due to illness, disability
  • have childcare commitments
  • care for a disabled person

What does Universal Credit replace?

  • Jobseekers Allowance (Income based)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Employment and Support Allowance (Income based)
  • Income Support

How is Universal Credit different?

  • Claims can only be made online
  • You will be paid monthly
  • It is paid in arrears, so may take up to five weeks to receive your first payment
  • You will be responsible for paying rent directly to your landlord
  • Couples who both claim Universal Credit will be paid one joint monthly payment
  • There is no limit to how many hours you can work. Instead of losing your benefits all at once they will gradually reduce as you earn more

Please visit the Understanding Universal Credit website for more information.

How to apply

Apply for Universal Credit

Help to complete your Universal Credit claim

If you cannot use digital services due to a disability or exceptional circumstances then please use the following contacts below to seek advice:

Universal Credit helpline 

Telephone: 0800 328 5644 
Textphone: 0800 328 1344 
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm 

For help from the early stages of your Universal Credit application right up to your first payment:

Further information

Will I be affected

If you are working age and you need to make a new claim for any of the following benefits then you will now need to make a claim for Universal Credit;

  • Housing Benefit
  • Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based)
  • Income Support
  • Employment & Support Allowance (Income Based)
  • Tax credits (Working and Child tax credits)

People already claiming any of the benefits listed above who have a change in their circumstances may have to switch to Universal Credit. This is called natural migration to Universal Credit. You may seperately be contacted by the Department of Works and Pensions to advise you will need to make a new claim for Universal Credit or the benefit you are claiming will be ended after a set period. This is called managed migration to Universal Credit.

A change of circumstances that could mean you need to make a new claim for Universal Credit through natural migration can include:

  • A change of address outside of the Local Authority that you are currently living in.
  • You become pregnant or have a child that requires you to make a new claim for Income Support or Child Tax Credits.
  • Change of address within same local authority from Specified Exempt Accommodation / Temporary Accommodation to general needs property.
  • Your extended period of sickness ends and you are still unable to work
  • You separate from your partner who was in a joint claim with you.
  • You are claiming Income Support and leave full-time education.

Use the eligibility checker on the Entitled To website to see if you may be affected (please note South Worcestershire Revenues and Benefits Service is not responsible for the content of external sites).

The Money Advice Service website also contains lots of information about what will change when you move from one of the six benefits to Universal Credit. You do not need to do anything until you hear from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), unless your circumstances change.

The following groups are exempt from Universal Credit:

  • Single people that have reached state pension age.
  • Couples that have both reached state pension age.
  • People living in supported or council placed temporary accommodation will need to apply for Housing Benefit for help with their rent and Universal Credit for help with living costs.

Apply for free school meals

You may also be entitled to free school meals if you claim Universal Credit, but you’ll need to apply for this separately. Read more about free school meals on worcestershire.gov.

Advice for landlords and employers

Advice for landlords

Most private sector landlords won’t see any change with the introduction of Universal Credit.

This is because most working age claimants in the private rented sector are already used to receiving their Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance payments directly from us and are responsible for paying their own rent.

If a tenant cannot manage and gets into arrears then it’s important to note that private landlords no longer need explicit consent from their tenant to apply for rental payments to be made directly to them.

The Department for Work and Pensions should start making payments direct to landlords if:

  • a claimant is in arrears with their rent for an amount equal to, or more than, two months of their rent.
  • a claimant has continually underpaid their rent over a period of time, and they have accrued arrears of an amount equal to or more than one month’s rent.

If a managed payment is not set-up by the Department for Work and Pensions then landlords can request one by completing the form on GOV.UK.

The Government has created a dedicated page on their website for Universal Credit and rented housing which contains detailed advice. Visit GOV.UK

Advice for employers

Universal Credit can benefit employers as well as individuals by creating a more flexible workforce as there is no upper limit to the number of hours people can work before losing their benefits. Instead, benefits will gradually reduce as people earn more.

Read the Universal Credit for employers: how it helps your business guide to help employers with staff claiming Universal Credit

As an employer there are some basic things you can do to help your staff make the move to Universal Credit.

  • Report PAYE information accurately and on time to HMRC. Failure to do so can lead to your staff not receiving enough Universal Credit payment or none at all which could lead to financial hardship. If you do not use the Real Time Information (RTI) system then let your employee know as they will need to report their work details themselves.
  • Be open and flexible to staff requesting additional hours or ad hoc overtime. Discuss with them how they could earn more by taking on additional responsibility or upskill themselves.
  • Universal Credit claimants, particularly when waiting for their first payment, can struggle to meet housing and living costs. Be aware of the financial support on offer and direct staff towards it. Alternatively, you may wish to consider advancing payments or loans to your employees that they pay back over a set period of time in a way they can afford.
  • Consider paying staff monthly instead of once every four weeks. Paying staff once every four weeks can mean at certain times of the year they will be assessed as having been paid twice within one Universal Credit period. This could mean their earnings are too high and they drop out of the Universal Credit system. They will then need to reapply to ensure payments continue in the next four-week cycle. This can lead to delays and financial hardship.

Help managing your money

The money management service has developed a free online tool especially for people making a new claim or moving to Universal Credit from existing benefits.

Struggling with debt?

If you find yourself in financial difficulty you may want to consider asking for independent debt advice. If you are having trouble paying your Council Tax bill then please get in touch with us as soon as possible by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0300 456 0560.

View money advice service website.

Financial support

If you are in financial difficulties then there is a range of financial support on offer to help you.

Advanced Payments

If you have little or no money to see you through until your first Universal Credit payment then you can apply for an advance payment by calling the Universal Credit helpline or asking for advice from your local JobCentre Plus.

You can apply for up to one full month’s payment in advance. Please note though, this is a loan and not a grant, you will have to pay it back but will have 12 months to do so.

Budgeting Advance

You can borrow from £100 up to £812 (if you have children) to help with emergency household costs such as replacing a broken cooker or help getting a job or staying in work. This money will be repaid through your regular Universal Credit payments.

Eligibility criteria applies and how much you receive depends on your circumstances. Speak to your Jobcentre work coach for more information and to apply.

Help paying your Council Tax

Council Tax Support (previously Council Tax Benefit) is not including in Universal Credit so you will still need to apply to our Revenues and Benefits service separately for help paying your Council Tax bill. For more information, see Council Tax Support page.

Discretionary Welfare Assistance

The South Worcestershire Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme will provide assistance in the form of goods or vouchers to help individuals or families facing exceptionally difficult circumstances or an emergency.

Crisis and Resilience Fund

Crisis and Resilience Fund are paid on top of any Housing Benefit/Universal Credit Housing costs you may receive. They act as additional financial support for those who need extra help with their rental liability. They are normally only paid for a short period of time. There is only a limited amount of money available so not everyone who applies will receive payment, it will depend on your circumstances. For more information, see Housing Benefit page.

Other support

If you claim Universal Credit you may also be entitled to:

Are you claiming everything you are entitled to?

Use this free benefits calculator to check you are not missing out on any financial help you could be claiming.

Challenging a Universal Credit decision

If you disagree with a decision about your Universal Credit claim then the first thing you should do is contact your local job centre using the details on your decision letter and ask for an explanation of the reasons behind a decision. You should do this as soon as possible.

For more information speak to the South Worcestershire Citizens Advice team.

Please note that Wychavon District Council does not hold detailed information regarding Universal Credit claimants and will not be able to advise you as to why or why not a payment decision has been made.

 

Read more …Universal Credit

Report benefit fraud

We monitor benefit claims and any suspicious circumstances or information. If you suspect someone is committing Housing Benefit or Council Tax fraud, then report it now so that we can investigate.

Housing Benefit fraud

Housing Benefit fraud is dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions.

  • By telephone: contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440
    Your call is free and confidential, you do not have to provide your name or address. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm
    If you have speech or hearing problems you can use a text phone service on 0800 328 0512 or Welsh speakers can call on 0800 678 3722
  • Online: Report Benefit Fraud on GOV.UK
  • By post: NBFH, PO Box 224, Preston, PR1 1GP

Council Tax Support fraud

Council Tax Support fraud is dealt with by us.

You do not have to give your name or address when contact us. The information you provide would be treated in the strictest confidence.

  • By post: Council Tax Support Investigations Team, South Worcestershire Revenues and Benefits Shared Services, PO Box 11, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PU
  • By email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Types of fraud

  • Receiving benefit on the basis of being in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance/Income Support and you are in fact working
  • Failure to declare all income, savings/capital or the ownership of another property/land elsewhere, knowing the non-declaration will increase the amount of benefit you are awarded
  • Not declaring the presence of a partner who is working, knowing this would affect your entitlement amount
  • Failure to declare the presence of other adults in the property in order to preserve or increase entitlement to benefit
  • If you own a property and are falsely claiming that you pay rent for the property, inventing a landlord, providing false rent books and tenancy agreements
  • Failure to declare that you have moved, however you continue to accept payments of Housing Benefit for the new address
  • Claiming benefits for an address that you do not live at
  • If you are a landlord who continues to receive Housing Benefit on behalf of a tenant that you are aware no longer lives at the premises. This might be where the landlord has access to more than one property, there is the potential to move tenants around without informing the Local Authority.

Information you'll be asked to provide

Provide as much detail as you can about the person you are reporting:

  • The person's full name
  • The person's address and/or the address at which fraud is suspected
  • Details of anyone else involved
  • The type of fraud you think the person is committing and why you suspect fraud
  • If you suspect the person of working, give the employers name, start and finish times, car registration and any other details known

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.

Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension.

You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

Claiming Pension Credit also means you may qualify for other benefits such as winter fuel payments, the Warm Home Discount Scheme and help with housing and Council Tax costs.

Types of Pension Credit

Pension Credit comes in two parts. Guarantee Credit and Savings credit.

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a guranteed minimum level. Anyone who has reached state pension age, either as a single person or a couple, and is on a low income may qualify.

Savings credit is extra money for those who have got savings or income higher than the basic state pension. It’s only available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.

Qualifying for Pension Credit

If you have reached the State Pension Age and have income of less than 10,000 then you may qualify for Pension Credit.

Use the Pension Credit Calculator to see if you qualify or call them on 0800 99 1234.

How to claim

You can apply online for Pension Credit. This is the quickest way to apply.

You can also apply by phone (Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm) using the numbers below:

  • Telephone: 0800 99 1234
  • Textphone: 0800 169 0133
  • NGT text relay (if you can’t hear or speak on the phone): Dial 18001 then 0800 99 1234.

Information you will need

Before you claim make sure you have:

  • Your National Insurance number
  • Information about your income, savings, and investments
  • Your bank account details

More Information

If you receive Pension Credit, you may also qualify for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support. You will need to claim separately for these.

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