Council Tax: Help for people with disabilities or impairments
You may not have to pay full Council tax if you or someone else (of any age) in your home has a disability. Adults who have a severe mental impairment may not have to pay Council Tax.
Disability
A disabled person is someone who is substantially and permanently disabled whether by illness, injury, congenital deformity or otherwise. In order to qualify for disabled relief, you must live in the property but do not have to be over the age of 18.
If you qualify for help under this scheme your Council Tax bill will be reduced by one property band.
For example, if your property is in Band D your tax bill will be based on Band C. If the property is in Band A, you will be given a reduction of one-ninth of the Band D charge.
If your property has already been placed in a lower band, this will be shown on your bill.
A Visiting Officer may need to inspect the property before a reduction can be granted.
In order to qualify there must be:
- A room other than a bathroom or kitchen which is used by and required for meeting the needs of a disabled person.
The room does not need to have been specially built or added, but your home will not qualify for a reduction unless the 'essential or of major importance' requirement is met.
Simply rearranging rooms - e.g., having a bedroom on the ground floor rather than the first floor - may not make your home eligible for a reduction.
- An extra bathroom or kitchen which is used by and required for meeting the needs of a disabled person;
The room does not need to have been specially built or added, but your home will not qualify for a reduction unless the 'essential or of major importance' requirement is met.
Simply rearranging rooms - e.g., having a bedroom on the ground floor rather than the first floor - may not make your home eligible for a reduction.
- Enough floor space to allow the use of a wheelchair which is required for meeting the needs of a disabled person.
Severe Mental Impairment
This is defined as 'severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) that appears to be permanent'. A medical practitioner must certify this. The person must also be entitled to one of the following benefits:
- Incapacity Benefit
- Attendance Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (higher or middle rate care component)
- An increase in the rate disablement pension (where constant attendance is needed)
- Disability Working Allowance
- Income support (which includes a disability premium)
- Employability Supplement or Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Universal Credit (in circumstances where a person has limited capability for work and/or work related activity)
Enquiry Forms
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