Carers
Council Tax bills are issued assuming that there are 2 or more adults living in a property. In certain circumstances some people can be disregarded or not counted when working out the number of occupiers and a discount may apply.
Are you caring for a person with a disability, living in the same home as yourself who: -
- Is not your partner
- Is over the age of 18 and
- Are you caring for them for at least 35 hours per week on average.
Is the person being cared for in receipt of one of the following benefits: -
- Highest rate of attendance allowance; or
- High rate care component of disability living allowance; or
- An increase in constant attendance allowance under the industrial injuries or war pension scheme; or
- Highest rate of constant attendance allowance payable on top of full rate disablement benefit paid in respect of an industrial injury.
If there are more than 2 occupiers in the property a reduction may still apply because more than one person living in the same property can count as a carer.
For Example: -
A married couple have a son over 18 years old. The son has been certified by his doctor as being Severely Mentally Impaired, and the Department for Work and Pensions have confirmed he is in receipt of Highest Rate of Care Component of Disability Living Allowance. Both parents care for their son for at least 35 hours a week.
The son is not counted for Council Tax purposes as he has been classed as SMI. Likewise his parents are not counted as they can be classed as his carers.
The personal element is removed from the Council Tax charge giving the household a discount of 50%. However if only one parent acted as a carer for the son a 25% discount would apply.
Please note that the City Council has a duty to confirm each year that all discounts that have been allowed are correct. If you receive a form in connection with this and your circumstances have not changed you must sign and return the form immediately if you wish the discount to continue.
It is important that you continue to make the payments shown on your bill until you are advised whether your application has been successful and a revised bill has been issued.
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