Council Tax Carers Disregard Discount

Beetlegirl21

Hi

I would like to ask for some advice please and thank you in advance.

Can my husband who is a carer for my son 35 hours per week who is age 19 soon to be 20 and he is in receipt of PiP apply for a careers disregard on council tax.

In January this year I applied online to our council in England for the discount on behalf of my husband and called in March they says they will have to double check and get back to me.Today I called again and they have says that because there is 3 adults living at the address the discount of 25% can not be applied as two people have to be caring for my son.I explained obviously as his mum I will be caring but his stepdad is his main carer as I care for my daughter who is under 18.

It did state on the form and the website as long as the person who is being cared for is not under the age of 18 then discount should be applied.Is this correct please and if so should this be back dated as I applied after watching one of the shoes on TV explaining about careers discount which I was unaware of and have always paid full council tax.

As the information I feel is conflicting and confusing At home there is myself his stepdad my son who is 19 and my daughter who is under 18 years old.

Many Thanks

Spoonie_Turtle

I'm not an expert but to my understanding this is correct. Even if your husband is disregarded there are still two adults not disregarded - you and your son - so no automatic discount. You cannot be disregarded as a carer as your daughter is under 18. Once she turns 18 you still have the same 'problem', even if you and your husband are disregarded as carers, there are still two adults - your son and daughter - so again no automatic discount.

Any help with council tax in any configuration would ultimately have to be based on having a low income.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82090209#Comment_82090209

I'm not expert either, but if son has an SMI then I believe that the 25% would apply as the OP would be the only one liable for CT.

Robbie64

A discount on council tax for being a carer is not dependant on being in receipt of Carers Allowance*. As long as both you and your husband provide at least 35 hours of care each week for your son you can both be exempted from council tax, which would reduce the council tax bill by 50%. As benefit rules only allow one person to be classed as the main carer for Carer's Allowance purposes, it introduces an artificial rule which some people (and presumably council staff) think must be satisfied before the rules on carers discounts for council tax are applied.

Your son can also be exempted if he is severely mentally impaired, which would reduce your council tax bill to £0, at least until your daughter turns 18.

*edited to add in: even if Carer's Allowance isn't in payment then the same principle applies, a carer's discount for council tax isn't restricted to just one person. In this case, both parents can qualify for a council tax discount so long as each parent provides at least 35 hours of care for the son each week.

toomuchinfo

If everyone living at an address is considered SMI then they are all disregarded for Council tax purposes, so zero bill. If one person living at the address is SMI, they are disregarded and a carer or two living with them get 50% discount so pay 50% of the council tax bill.
My son is SMI, my husband and I were counted a his carers so paid 50%. My husband passed away 18 months ago and I still pay 50%.

sheramber

The OP has not mentioned her son is severely mentally impaired so talk of SMI exemption may be confusing the issue.

superM

I also correct if the 18 years old is still in full time education (Up to level 3) then are are exempted for council tax purposes?

Robbie64

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82097413#Comment_82097413

As long as Child benefit is still in payment then the 18 year old will be exempt for council tax purposes.