SMI for council tax

Ms_Wheels

Hello,

Could anyone please offering advice/support regarding a claim for Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI) for council tax.

The GP is happy to declare the patient as Severely Mentally Impaired though the GP did not know where to find the form and didn't have a template form on their computer. They said other patients brought a form in.

I contacted the council and they sent a form with a covering note explaining it was the form for the GP to sign and confirm the date impairment started. However, the form they sent does not appear to be the medical certificate form.

The form appears to need to be completed and signed by someone (referred to on form as 'a responsible person in the household") on behalf of the person with SMI . The form asks for name and address of individual with SMI, type/date of allowance and GP details. There is no where for GP to confirm start of impairment or provide other details or a box for GP signature.

The form does say:

The person’s doctor must complete a certificate in support of this application. I shall approach the person’s doctor directly for this certificate.

This bring me back full circle to wondering what form/certificate the doctor needs to complete.

When I google other councils, it appears to vary. Some have a specific form, some say claimants needs to supply GP certificate and some say the council will approach GP. I cannot find anything relating to my council. My council seem very slow at responding - it took weeks of chasing emails and phone call requests before I spoke to someone. I could do this again, but I was really hoping that someone from MSE might be more helpful (and faster) than the council.

Just wondering what other people have done when making application for SMI.

Thanks

PS - after posting I noticed this topic is also discussed on the council tax forum - not sure if I'm able to move it or if it's worth duplicating the post there?

NedS

When I applied for dad, they just accepted his dementia diagnosis letter and it was easy. When I later tried to apply for mum, they wanted a form completed by the GP confirming severe mental impairment. The form was issued by the LA and signed by the doctor who made the diagnosis (luckily I still had their contact details).

marcia_

have a deep look on the council website. I eventually found the form, printed and got the gp to sign. Council told me they should have contacted the gp to get the form signed but accepted it anyway.

Rubyroobs

Most forms ( each council's is lightly different ) definitely have a box on the second page for Gp to sign. maybe whoever printed off the form for you didn't send the whole thing? Look on the council's website and see if you can print one off from there. Make sure you send a copy of their disability benefit award letter too.

Ms_Wheels

Thanks all. I did have a deep search on the council website and couldn't find anything.

After making more enquiries, it turns out my local council have changed their process and now the council send the GP the medical certificate directly. I'm guessing whoever sent the previous covering letter and form was unaware of this.

Thanks for reminder re disability benefit award letter.

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81949422#Comment_81949422

that's exactly what my council said but I managed to find the form myself lol

Just make sure you have a word with your GP beforehand so they know to expect it and write that specific GP on the application forms so it goes to them not another GP in the practice.