SMI confusion

6tw6et

If a person is 100% SMI and this can be proven , lives with a carer who is his son ( so disregarded for tax) this means from what I have read a 25% discount and can be backdated.

If his wife also cares for him but doesnt get any benefit as she is a pensioner and so is the disabled person , is it still classed as 25% off and not 50% off as should she not be disregarded too as the disabled person needs 24h care.

Or to to be classed as a carer for council tax purposes, do you need to be getting a carers benefit (like the son does here)

its so confusing!

fatbelly

It's about who is disregarded

The person with SMI is disregarded

The wife is not, even if a carer

The son could be, depending on the detail.

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/who-has-to-pay

6tw6et

Yes so in this situation....son is getting the carers element of UC and is living in the same house.

Father has the SMI.

Wife is fine so ....only one person is qualifying...the wife ...meaning 25% off and its not means tested???

 ( so many people get confused with CTR scheme which I got told is different)


Wondering if they would backdate it once proof is sent... It's like they make the rules so complicated people don't understand it and then they just don't bother claiming I mean why else would there be so many people that are not claiming this that are entitiled to it.

lincroft1710

25% Single Person Discount is not and never has been means tested.

6tw6et

OK great. didnt even know about all this. So I will fill in the form

Do the council need proof of the carers UC claim?  I read they can be a carer if getting the carers benefit or not?

as for the 25% I read one of the two adults without any disablility has to be a carer for example?

6tw6et

so to clarifiy factually.. .Dad SMI getting PIP....wife pension age no illness
Son live in carer for dad getting UC with carers element , no one else lives there, house in mom/dads name.

I always get paranoid doing this stuff so ...no reason why he shouldnt get the SMI reduction...at the moment, he is paying full CT?

Blancmang25

6tw6et said:

so to clarifiy factually.. .Dad SMI getting PIP....wife pension age no illness
Son live in carer for dad getting UC with carers element , no one else lives there, house in mom/dads name.

I always get paranoid doing this stuff so ...no reason why he shouldnt get the SMI reduction...at the moment, he is paying full CT?

Dad is disregarded from date of SMI form signed/or when PIP was awarded if later. Son is disregarded as long as he cares for dad 35 hours a week or more. Carers form needs to be completed along with SMI form. As for backdating it is up to the local authority.
Will be 25% discount as wife is only adult in property.

6tw6et

right that makes sense...but didnt know there was a carers form as well. so two different forms have to be completed in this situation as I just completed the SMI link form and added all the details on there as it asked who else lives in the property?

Blancmang25

6tw6et said:

right that makes sense...but didnt know there was a carers form as well. so two different forms have to be completed in this situation as I just completed the SMI link form and added all the details on there as it asked who else lives in the property?

It depends on the local authority, some may have one form which covers both and this would ask for the carers details. Generally there are two, as two separate requirements/declaration.

6tw6et

Its a bit confusiong. So I have filled in the severely mental impaired form and that basically asked who else lives in the property details and I uploaded the details of the qualifying adult (wife) and the disregarded son and uploaded the carers award proof and uploaded all other document asked.

The only other form I can see on the website (Birmingham City council) is a single person discount form.... do I fill this in as well and if I do fill in who is meant to fill in the qualifying adult (wife) or the Son?


Maybe if they made these things a little more clearer, you wouldn't have so many people not even being aware of how to do this or simply not aware of it at all.

Blancmang25

6tw6et said:

Its a bit confusiong. So I have filled in the severely mental impaired form and that basically asked who else lives in the property details and I uploaded the details of the qualifying adult (wife) and the disregarded son and uploaded the carers award proof and uploaded all other document asked.

The only other form I can see on the website (Birmingham City council) is a single person discount form.... do I fill this in as well and if I do fill in who is meant to fill in the qualifying adult (wife) or the Son?


Maybe if they made these things a little more clearer, you wouldn't have so many people not even being aware of how to do this or simply not aware of it at all.

Here is the link to apply for a Carer Council Tax Discount. You apply for this as the carer.
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20144/apply_for_a_council_tax_discount_or_exemption/3035/apply_for_a_carer_council_tax_discount

Have you also downloaded the Doctors Certificate form? This needs to be completed by your dad's doctor. 
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/10462/doctors_letter_for_severely_mentally_impaired_application