Could you be eligible?
If you don’t qualify for help with council tax support because your income and savings are too high, you may still qualify for a discount on your council tax because you are a carer or have a dementia diagnosis. This is because these people may be disregarded for council tax purposes if certain criteria applies.
Carer Discount
In some circumstances live-in carers may be disregarded if they look after someone with a disability who isn’t their partner, spouse or child under 18, for an average of at least 35 hours a week. They do not need to be claiming Carer’s Allowance. The person being cared for must be getting a disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment for Daily Living or at least the Middle Rate of Disability Living Allowance Care Component.
Severe Mental Impairment (SMI discount)
This could include adults, for example, those who have dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or profound learning difficulties.
To qualify, you’ll need to be medically certified as having an SMI usually by your GP, and also be receiving a disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment for Daily Living or at least the Middle Rate of Disability Living Allowance Care Component.
This list of discounts is not exhaustive and there are lots of others available so please refer to your own Local Authority website for more details.
If you need further help with the two discounts discussed here please contact our Macmillan Welfare and Benefits Adviser, Phil Bremner, on 01423 557318 or email hdft.benefitsadvice@nhs.net