Persons Classed As Severely Mentally Impaired
Council Tax bills are issued assuming that there are 2 or more adults living in a property. In certain circumstances some people are not counted when working out the number of occupiers and a discount or exemption may apply.
An individual is considered Severely Mentally Impaired, for Council Tax purposes, if they have a Severe Impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused), which appears to be permanent. This includes people who are suffering from a degenerative brain disorder such as Alzheimer's disease, a stroke or other forms of dementia.
To qualify, a doctor must confirm, on request, that his/her patient does have a permanent mental illness.
AND
In addition, to qualify for the disregard the person must be entitled to (though not necessarily in receipt of) one of the following benefits: -
- Invalidity Pension / Long Term Incapacity Benefit
- Attendance Allowance / Constant Attendance Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Highest / Middle rate of Care Component of Disability Living Allowance
- Disabled Persons Tax Credit
- Increase in Disablement pension (because constant attendance is needed)
- Unemployability Supplement / Allowance
- Income Support with Disability premium
If you live in a property with one other person who is entitled to one of the above benefits and you feel may qualify due to their severe mental impairment you should read through the application form and submit a claim.
If you are making an application on behalf of someone who lives alone but has a severe mental impairment, on confirmation of the above information, an exemption can be granted. (Please include your care of address).
If there are 3 or more occupiers in the property there may still be an entitlement to discount if any of the other occupiers can be disregarded in their own right, for example as a fulltime student or a carer.
How useful is this page?