Council Tax Reduction - People with Alzheimers

cobster

Hi All

I just wanted to share with you the result of a long battle to get the council tax for my elderly aunt and uncle reduced as he has Alzheimers.

They live in their own house and have a small private pension coming in which doesn't cover their monthly utility bills so I have been looking at ways to help reduce their bills. I had heard that as he has Alzheimers and has recently been granted an Attendance Allowance he would be eligible for a 25% reduction in council tax. I rang their council tax section and was told this was not the case. I spoke to a couple of people on different occasions and got the same message.

I spoke to a great lady at the Alzheimers Association who said that I needed to ask for a "council tax reduction for mental health impairment". I called the council, uttered the magic words, and hey presto 3 months down the line they have been told they will get a 25% reduction in their annual bill backdated to his date of diagnosis (2003). :j


Result!! Definitely worth persevering!

Cobster

alimbee

Thanks for this Cobster - I have just passed this on to a colleague as her mum sadly has Alzheimers. Hopefully it will help her too.

alba37

That's a great example of a very good outcome! Don't give up! My cousin has exemption from council tax, due to his disabilities and living alone. He works part time.

Very unusual to hear of them back-dating anything!

Well done!

barnabee

So pleased your aunt got what she is entitled to. Wouldn't it be so much better if all of this was done automatically when the diagnosis was made?

It took me a while to sort out the backdated 25% reduction for my parents. The Council tax office sent me a form to fill in which then had to be countersigned by the doctor to certify the illness.

The rules state 'people who are severely mentally impaired are not counted for council tax when adding up the number of people in a property.'

More details can be found here

CIS

The severely mentally impaired ('SMI') are not counted when the number if people in the property is assesed, and although they may still be the liable person, if they live along or with another SMI person, the house would then be exempt.

Ames

Is this true of someone living alone? I'm physically and mentally disabled, get DLA and income support, full housing benefit but apparantly I'm still eligible to pay some council tax, I've just got a bill from a couple of years ago and they've told me to expect to have to pay this year too. I just don't see how I'm eligible for it given the income support and housing benefit, but I haven't been able to get in touch with my WRO yet.

CIS

If your qualify as SMI, then if your only liable person in the property , then you are eligible for an exemption (class U).
Your best bet is to look on your local council website and complete the form - nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Have you tried getting the disabled band relief ?

Ames

What's the disabled band relief?

I'm pretty sure being on income support I should be entitled to the full benefit, but for some reason I'm not.

CIS

Band relief drops you down to the next lowest band or to 5/9ths instead of 6/9ths if your in a band A peoperty.

Its available to claim if for anyone resident in the property their is:

Adaptations made to allow wheelchairs access around the property (ie widening doors):
and/or
An extra bathroom or kitchen built on for their use:
and/or
A room is set aside for their specific care ie room for dialysis etc

If their any doubt over the amount your getting paid , then ask for a re-assesment on the Council Tax Benefit - theres nothing to lose and everything to gain.