Council Tax Discount - SMI and Carers

FluffyRainbows · 23 March at 1:35PM

I have applied to my council for the above. I have a voicemail stating i could get 50% and now they say i cant. Can someone confirm for me please.

I work but my husband is a carer for my son (not his) so the original message was it was 25% for SMI, 25% for Carers as there were more than 1 eligible adult in the property.

sheramber · 23 March at 5:07PM

Did the council not explain why you didn't qualify?

How old is your son and what disability benefit does he get?

Albermarle · 23 March at 5:31PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6660925/council-tax-discount-smi-and-carers

It sounds like your son with SMI ( assuming you can obtain suitable documentation from GP etc) and your husband ( if he cares for over 35 hours a week) will both be disregarded for council tax. However you are also living there, so there will be one person counted for council tax. So you should get the 25% single person discount.

toomuchinfo · 23 March at 6:10PM

If your son is eligible as SMI then you and your husband can both be counted as carers even though you work. This was the case for us and both my husband and I were counted as carers so we had 50% discount. My husband has passed away but I still get 50% discount.

( perhaps it depends on which local authority)

FluffyRainbows · 23 March at 9:06PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934367#Comment_81934367

He gets full Disability as he has Williams Syndrome. They have had all the evidence from DLA as well as the GP letter. They are saying that as i work i am not entitled.

Albermarle · 23 March at 9:23PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934706#Comment_81934706

That will be the issue . As you work ( full time?) it will be difficult to class you as a full time carer.

So as I said in my previous post, you will probably be limited to a 25% council tax discount.

Still a significant saving though.

Blancmang25 · 24 March at 5:43AM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934706#Comment_81934706

You are entitled to the 50% reduction, as long as your son is over 18, which I am presuming he is.

If your son is under 18, then your partner will be disregarded and a 25% reduction will apply, as he is not his child.(once your son is 18(adult) the 50% reduction can be applied).

It makes no difference if you work, the regulations clearly state if you provide care for at least 35 hours a week you and your partner are disregarded.

Regulation link below:(3c)

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/552/schedule/part/II

I would go back to the council and confirm that you provide 35 hours of care, (you probably have done this already when you completed the carers form, that is your declaration of providing care)

The above regulation covers all local authorities.

Albermarle · 24 March at 10:45AM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934910#Comment_81934910

It makes no difference if you work, the regulations clearly state if you provide care for at least 35 hours a week you and your partner are disregarded

I am thinking this is where the issue lies. The council are possibly not accepting that someone who works full time, can also give a minimum of 35 care hours a week, especially as they are the 'second carer'.

The OP may have to go into more detail with the council about what care they give/when/ for how long each day etc. rather than just stating it is 35 hours a week.

Blancmang25 · 24 March at 2:41PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81935129#Comment_81935129

The op does not need to give any details of the care required.

There is no requirement in the regulations.

The only requirement is that the op provides at least 35 hours of care a week, the OP would have had to complete two carers forms and supply a completed SMI form signed by a gp, that's it.

There is a post on here earlier by toomuchinfo, which confirms the above.

Once awarded the local authorities do regular reviews on all discounts and exemptions awarded to confirm the details are still the same.

If however op's son is under 18 she is not eligible to be disregarded until he reaches adult age, but from what has been said I think he is over 18.