One in five councils in Eng/Wal getting it wrong on Council Tax Carers Discount

MSE_Kit

An investigation by MoneySavingExpert.com into 'the councils that couldn't Care less' has found that, in a spot check, at least 69 councils in England and Wales have information about the live-in Carer Council Tax discount on their websites that incorrectly indicates far fewer people are eligible than really are. This is likely to be putting off some of the millions of unpaid Carers from claiming what they're legally entitled to.

Read the full story:

'Martin Lewis: Don't trust councils' online info about the Council Tax Carers Discount - one in five English and Welsh councils get it wrong'

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Albermarle

On the other side many carers are unaware of the discounts, so would not even think to apply or look at a councils website. 
Unfortunately many people, not just carers, just put their head in the sand when it comes to money matters. 
So even if the councils upped their game on this issue ( which they should), I am sure the majority of eligible people would still not apply. 

LateStarter

When my partner and disabled (adult) offspring moved in with me some few years ago, I called the local council to ask specifically if a council tax discount was available, and was told "NO".. 

skull

Is it a misprint, do spousal/related carers NOT get a discount? Am I misreading point 1)?

MouldyOldDough

skull said:

Is it a misprint, do spousal/related carers NOT get a discount? Am I misreading point 1)?

No - unfortunately not ....

They don't think that much of spouces !

Albermarle

skull said:

Is it a misprint, do spousal/related carers NOT get a discount? Am I misreading point 1)?

Caring for a Spouse or Partner or child under 18 does not qualify for a discount.
Caring for other relatives, or adult children does qualify, as long as you spend at least 35 hours a week caring.

Also because of the way that it works, if it is a multi person household, there is no point in applying, as even if the carer is disregarded, there is still enough people living in the house to have to pay the full council tax.

Neil_Dooley

Hi, we have a severely disabled 19yr old. We already get a council tax discount because of her disability. Are we eligible for a further reduction under the carers rule? Thanks. 

Salylady12

I can’t see it mentioned, but if you leave a property empty in order to provide live in care for someone living elsewhere eg: you leave your own house empty to move back with parents and provide 24/7 care, then the empty property  can be council tax exempt. I did this, I did have to jump through hoops to prove to the council my house was empty - it involved showing comparison utilities use, on previous years, and a note from a GP to confirm I was a 24/7 live-in carer, but I did get full exemption on my property, then there was non payable on my mums house either, because as a carer I didn’t count towards council tax, and my mums Alzheimer’s diagnosis exempted her. 

DannyHotPotato

When my adult child went to live at university the other side of the country, we informed the local authority council tax dept. (North East Lincolnshire) that we would no longer be eligible for the council tax discount as we would no longer be claiming carer's allowance as he would no longer be living here.  We gave them  notice before it happened.
They said it would take around 6 weeks to process.
16 weeks later, They adjusted the council tax bill wanting the 16 weeks of 25% discount back immediately.
We are having to do this over a period of time.
I should be putting a claim in for this!

Albermarle

Neil_Dooley said:

Hi, we have a severely disabled 19yr old. We already get a council tax discount because of her disability. Are we eligible for a further reduction under the carers rule? Thanks. 

It depends.

Can you clarify what the current discount you get is?
Is she classed as having severe mental impairment/severe learning disability ?
How many other people are in the household are there, and how many of them spend at least 35 hours a week caring for her?

The council tax system works on how many people are in a household.
Two or more - pay 100%
One  - pay 75%
None - pay 50%

Only certain disabled people and carers can be disregarded for council tax purposes. So although they are in the home, they are not counted.
So for example if you have two people in the home and one is disregarded, then you get the single person discount of 25%.
On the other hand if one person is disregarded, but there are still two other people there, then no discount.

If you could answer the questions, I will try and give you a more definitive answer.