Can you get council tax relief under SMI for schizoaffective disorder?

williewonder

As well as mild intellectual disabilities. Under psychiatric care. I have always got council tax under SMI but this morning the council sent a form out addressed to my support workers to see if I have a permanent disability and for a doctor or social worker to say I have a permanently disability. Would my care coordinator who’s a LD community nurse be able to sign it?

sheramber

Is she a   doctor or social worker?

Grumpy_chap

It is possible that the OP's Care Coordinator is not able to sign the declaration, but there is no harm in discussing it with them as the Care Coordinator should be able to advise whom within the OP's care envelope is suitable to request the review and signature (or otherwise) of the form.

elsien

She will be part of your care team so could pass it on to your psychiatrist if necessary. 

kkkklinky

I was advised that SMI could only be claimed for an organic disease or physical trauma resulting in intellectual impairment and damage to the brain or intellectual impairment that has no chance of improving  such as Alzheimer's, Dementia, Stroke, Brain damage, Multiple Schlerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and learning difficulties etc. Mental health conditions are treatable with medication in the majority of cases and are not classed as permanent. My own partner tried to claim under 2 separate councils for Schizophrenia (we lived in 2 counties)and was refused by both even though he was violent and couldn't communicate properly with others. Some councils were incorrectly awarding SMI for mental health disorders due to GPs saying they were eligible(confusing Severe Mental Impairment with Severe Mental Illness). Some councils are now checking SMI claims to ensure people are actually eligible by asking if there is an actual impairment and whether an impairment is permanent. 

Basically if a condition is treated with psychiatric drugs and/ or a psychiatrist it is not usually classed as a SMI. Personality disorders like BPD also don't count

williewonder

Would mild intellectual disabilities go under the SMI criteria. I scored IQ 69 on a test and under the community learning disability team with a large support package from social services. On the form it says it's recommended a GP or social worker signs it. I can get my psychiatrist to sign it, thats not a problem but for ease would a community nurse be able to sign it?  I could also get my social worker to sign it from the CLDT. That might be the easiest option, I bet she fills them in all the time.

elsien

kkkklinky said:

I was advised that SMI could only be claimed for an organic disease or physical trauma resulting in intellectual impairment and damage to the brain or intellectual impairment that has no chance of improving  such as Alzheimer's, Dementia, Stroke, Brain damage, Multiple Schlerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and learning difficulties etc. Mental health conditions are treatable with medication in the majority of cases and are not classed as permanent. My own partner tried to claim under 2 separate councils for Schizophrenia (we lived in 2 counties)and was refused by both even though he was violent and couldn't communicate properly with others. Some councils were incorrectly awarding SMI for mental health disorders due to GPs saying they were eligible(confusing Severe Mental Impairment with Severe Mental Illness). Some councils are now checking SMI claims to ensure people are actually eligible by asking if there is an actual impairment and whether an impairment is permanent. 

Basically if a condition is treated with psychiatric drugs and/ or a psychiatrist it is not usually classed as a SMI. Personality disorders like BPD also don't count

I have known people claim SMI for long-standing psychiatric illness where it has severely impacted on their ability over a long period of time to cope on a day-to-day basis even with medication. The impact of  an enduring mental health illness and its treatment can create a permanent cognitive impairment in some people, And is why some have to live in residential car because they can’t manage even with support in the community, 
You are right for many people with medication. It’s not a permanent impairment. But for some people it is so it’s not an absolute “you can’t claim.”

For the OP  I would suggest to use the learning disability and the mental health diagnosis on your form.
however, because it’s finances, is this not something your deputy would complete?

staggered

"A "severe mental impairment" (SMI) in the UK, according to UK legislation and local council guidelines, refers to a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning, however caused, which appears to be permanent".

My mum suffered from anxiety and depression for 25 years, up until her death.  In her case, although she took medication, the condition was permanent. If not, perhaps, her intelligence, it certainly impacted her social functioning.  She received Attendance Allowance on account of it.  After she died, we made a claim for SMI discount.  I wasn't expecting it to be successful and if it hadn't been it wouldn't have been the end of the world, it only took a few minutes to fill in the foirm.  However, her GP signed to say that she had had a SMI (it was his decision to make, not the Council's) and we received a discount, backdated to when she was first awarded Attendance Allowance, which amounted to about £3,000.

I would encourage anyone who thinks that they may be entitled to claim to do so.  It's ultimately for the GP to decide whether someone meets the SMI criteria.  Some take a different view and some, frankly, are more diligent than others (not every GP, I suspect, would have signed to say mum had an SMI).  Don't be put off by reading that people with Alzheimers or Parkinson's typically get the discount, others conditions (if they're permanent) sometimes qualify too.

kkkklinky

elsien said:

kkkklinky said:

I was advised that SMI could only be claimed for an organic disease or physical trauma resulting in intellectual impairment and damage to the brain or intellectual impairment that has no chance of improving  such as Alzheimer's, Dementia, Stroke, Brain damage, Multiple Schlerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Autism and learning difficulties etc. Mental health conditions are treatable with medication in the majority of cases and are not classed as permanent. My own partner tried to claim under 2 separate councils for Schizophrenia (we lived in 2 counties)and was refused by both even though he was violent and couldn't communicate properly with others. Some councils were incorrectly awarding SMI for mental health disorders due to GPs saying they were eligible(confusing Severe Mental Impairment with Severe Mental Illness). Some councils are now checking SMI claims to ensure people are actually eligible by asking if there is an actual impairment and whether an impairment is permanent. 

Basically if a condition is treated with psychiatric drugs and/ or a psychiatrist it is not usually classed as a SMI. Personality disorders like BPD also don't count

I have known people claim SMI for long-standing psychiatric illness where it has severely impacted on their ability over a long period of time to cope on a day-to-day basis even with medication. The impact of  an enduring mental health illness and its treatment can create a permanent cognitive impairment in some people, And is why some have to live in residential car because they can’t manage even with support in the community, 
You are right for many people with medication. It’s not a permanent impairment. But for some people it is so it’s not an absolute “you can’t claim.”

For the OP  I would suggest to use the learning disability and the mental health diagnosis on your form.
however, because it’s finances, is this not something your deputy would complete?

It depends on the council...my local council and a few others neighbouring mine does not allow SMI for mental health disorders, even if(in rare cases) that condition is never improved with psychiatric drugs. My nanna who had a stroke got SMI, my Schizophrenic ex partner couldn't.