council tax exemption for permanent severe mental or social impairment...

Tommo1980

The criteria aren't subjective at all. They are easily quantifiable and straightforward to apply.

A competent and qualified medical professional should have no issues making the determination.

It is the armchair medical 'experts' that cause the confusion.

Tom

faerielight

I posted this to find out what the criteria was for it.PD is severe mental impairment, and severe impairment of social functioning, without a doubt and is permanent in the majority of patients. It isn't impairment of intelligence though,and I think you're right, and it is the "and "in the statement that is important, therefore,I realise I am not entitled to this. If it said "or", I would be., Everybody at the pd centre was given the forms. Thanks for the clarity.

glennevis

If "everybody at the PD centre was given the forms" then someone at the PD centre needs retraining.

Tommo1980

Just to be clear I wasn't trying to downplay the severity of a personality disorder, or compare it to other conditions.

In the end the only opinion that counts is that of the DR who needs to put their signature to the form.

Tom

CIS

For clarification - the 'subjective' part is brought in to it by the fact that no definition is made within council tax legislation of 'severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning' therefore it has to be assumed which definition is to being used and that that is what parliament intended, the specific definition has never fully been clarified (it has not yet been fully disputed in a higher court).

Craig

CIS

Tommo1980 wrote: »

In the end the only opinion that counts is that of the DR who needs to put their signature to the form.

Tom

As it stands at the moment that is the key until the definitions are fully clarified (which may never happen).

Craig

Ames

glennevis wrote: »

If "everybody at the PD centre was given the forms" then someone at the PD centre needs retraining.

Sadly there's a lot of incorrect benefits advice floating around support services. There isn't the money to buy in someone qualified to run advice sessions so well meaning people do a bit of online reading and start running sessions. I've seen truly shocking advice given out, I remember once correcting every statement someone made until he got annoyed and I gave up.

nannytone_2

if you look for the, there are plenty of examples on this forum from people whose GP's have signed the form without being aware that the impaired intellect criteria also needs to be met.

people that live alone and are competent enough to ask complex questions on this forum also receive exemption from council tax because their GP has signed the form

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

CIS

I agree with both of the above - spent a lot of time working with advice workers, often having to 'help' them in the right direction.

Craig

teddysmum

This may be why some of the grouses about people getting help without having to prove anything, while others with obvious problems struggle, came about.