Council Tax reduction or exemption for people with severe mental impairments

Who is eligible

If you have a severe mental impairment, you may be entitled to a Council Tax exemption or reduction. 

You will need to have a certificate from a doctor to show that you or the person you live with are severely mentally impaired. Conditions include (but are not limited to) the following:

• degenerative brain disorder such as Alzheimer’s
• other kinds of dementia
• a learning disability
• a severe stroke
• severe or chronic mental illness.
  

Claimants will also need to be receiving at least one of the following benefits:

• Incapacity benefit
• Severe disablement allowance
• Unemployability supplement payable as an increase to disablement benefit
• Unemployability allowance payable with war pension
• Attendance allowance under the higher or lower rate
• Constant attendance allowance at one of the four rates payable with disablement pension or war disablement pension
• Disability element of working tax credits
• Care component of a disability living allowance or the care component of a personal independent payment
• Income support or universal credit where the applicable amounts include a disability premium
• Employment and support allowance 

What you'll get

You'll be exempt from Council Tax if you have a severe mental impairment and live on your own, or any other adults living in the property qualify as being severely mentally impaired.

You'll get a 25 per cent discount if you live with someone who is severely mentally impaired and either there are no other adults in your household or everyone else in your home is disregarded except for you.

How to apply

To apply for a Council Tax reduction, you will need to call 01442 228000 and ask for "Council Tax" when prompted.