Processing times vary between councils and can depend on whether your application includes all the evidence needed, but it may take several weeks. Your council should tell you its expected timescale and write to you with its decision, including any reduction awarded and the date it starts. Keep paying your current Council Tax instalments unless the council tells you otherwise, as an application does not usually pause your bill. If you have heard nothing after the stated timescale, contact your council’s Council Tax Reduction team and check whether you may be eligible to ask for the award to be backdated.