council tax discount because I have bipolar?

pink_orchid

Local councils can give a rebate of 25% to a household that has one person who is deemed to have a 'severe mental impairment'. Further investigation of the wording that has to be declared "I certify that the person mentioned above is suffering from a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent."
I have decided up until now not to apply because of the intelligence part but I have been thinking about it and there are areas of my intelligence that have been affected such as my memory, my concentration, my speed at which I process information. My social functioning is severely limited because of my anxiety and painic attacks.
I am nervous about asking my doc to sign the form in case he says it is a load of tosh but severe reduction in my finances means I am going to at least ask. I am on high rate care DLA, low rate mobility and have been for four years. I have just been awarded it again indefinately.
What do others think?
Anyone any experience of similar?

Pink

CIS

Local councils can give a rebate of 25% to a household that has one person who is deemed to have a 'severe mental impairment'.

There is no 25% discount for being SMI- If you are the sole occupier you are exempt from council tax (Class U) or are disregarded and the other occs may get a 25% Single Person Discount.

"I certify that the person mentioned above is suffering from a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent."

The SMI exemption was originally meant for those who are so affected by the impairment that they are unable to function and manage their affairs (think severe altzheimers or severe brain damage etc) however the actual wording is so loose that many Dr's are signing the certification for illness which is less severe and doesn't really meet the original intentions. Many Drs will sign the form for illnesses which don't affect a person to any great extent (I've seen dozens of cases and spoken to case workers who've confirmed their clients aren't SMI but the Drs sign the forms anyway). The regulations need tightened up and clarified.

There's no problem with you applying to the council and they should issue a form to your Dr.

declutterqueen

Do you get Council tax benefits? or Housing Benefits?

pauletruth

but strangley you can research and study a way to cut your bill. does that not indicate your functioning quite well.

System

pauletruth wrote: »

but strangley you can research and study a way to cut your bill. does that not indicate your functioning quite well.

Or maybe they were given advice by someone else?

pink_orchid

pauletruth wrote: »

but strangley you can research and study a way to cut your bill. does that not indicate your functioning quite well.

Paul, if I wished a debate on how bipolar can affect people I would have posted a controversial post on a bipolar or mental health forum. Instead I posted here which I thought was for money advice, more specifically for me, benefits advice.
I won't give you the full emotional rant that I am sure you would enjoy.....the internet is full of small minded people.....they just bore me. If you really wanted to know how bipolar affects the brain, then I am sure you would be in the bipolar and mental health forums yourself. Here is not the best place for bipolar info.
I was indeed given this advice FOUR years ago by a welfare rights advisor but I refused to apply, mainly on the grounds of pride.

The 25% discoun t I think applies in the case of a couple. If one is deemed to be severely mentally impaired, then the other adult is given a single person occupancy discount.....I think.

Pink

CIS

The 25% discoun t I think applies in the case of a couple. If one is deemed to be severely mentally impaired, then the other adult is given a single person occupancy discount.....I think.

Thats correct - the person who is SMI is disregarded (not given a 25% discount) and the remaining partner can then claim a 25% single person discount as the SMI person is effectively 'invisible'.

pauletruth

i suffer from serious depression/physically handicapped as well. i am not taking the p--- i just don't see it as fair that your looking at cutting you council tax by using a rule that was intended for extremly disabled folks. you can type a very clear message so your functioning at a high level. ive know a number of folks that are bipolar and for most of the time they function well. there are of course times when they need assistance but not at the level of a seriously brain damaged person.

pink_orchid

Paul, i AM severely disabled by my VARIABLE condition. I have just returned home from my 13th hospital stay in 3 years. Bipolar by its nature gives us times of increased productivity as well as reduced.

real1314

pink_orchid wrote: »

Paul, i AM severely disabled by my VARIABLE condition. I have just returned home from my 13th hospital stay in 3 years. Bipolar by its nature gives us times of increased productivity as well as reduced.

Imagine (well, you don't really need to imagine, 'cos people are like this) a person who cannot act for themselves at all. Ever. In any way.
They can't read or write; not through lack of education or effort, but because their brain is damaged / non functioning.
They can't decide most things for themself.
They can't budget, plan or think ahead.
They need support at almost all times.

That's severe mental impairment. Just info. :cool:

rogerblack

real1314 wrote: »

That's severe mental impairment. Just info. :cool:

Severe mental impairment in this context is what parliament has laid down in law, statutory instruments, and any caselaw that has built up. In addition to the practice of how it's administrated.

The words in regulations do not always mean what they say on the tin.