Are you aware of the council tax discount available to people affected by dementia?

f you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with dementia, you may be able to apply for a reduction in council tax.

Following an investigation by MoneySavingExpert.com, it’s been revealed that a large number of people with ‘mental impairments’ such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s may be missing out on significant council tax discounts.

It appears this is mainly due to lack of awareness of the scheme by which many vulnerable people living with dementia have been eligible for a significant council tax discount for years , but councils have not helped spread the word, which often means many have missed out on money that could help improve their quality of life.

For many this could be as much as £400 a year, and for those who have been overpaying for years, claims can be backdated, so could be worth significantly more.

Who is eligible for a council tax reduction?

Your home may be exempt from council tax – If you live on your own and have dementia it may mean you don’t have to pay council tax on your home. This may also apply if you have dementia and have a live-in carer for at least 35 hours a week who is not your partner or parent.

You may be eligible for a council tax reduction – If your partner has dementia you may be eligible to a 25% discount in council tax. This applies if your partner is exempt from paying council tax, meaning you will only be charged a ‘single person’ occupancy rate.

Further information on eligibility is available on the Alzheimer’s Society website’s Discounts, disregards and exemptions on council tax page

How to make a council tax reduction claim

Initially, a doctor’s diagnosis is required – A registered medical practitioner must have diagnosed a condition causing ‘severe mental impairment’. You may be required to attach a written diagnosis to your claim – in others you just give your doctor’s details and they’ll be contacted for confirmation.

Then get a claim form from your council – You’ll need to contact your local authority for a claim form to register for a council tax discount (find contact details via the Government’s ‘Apply for Council Tax Reduction’ service).

Fill the form in and send it off to your council – You may be asked to attach some supporting evidence, such as the doctor’s diagnosis or evidence of eligibility for relevant benefits.

How to apply for a council tax rebate if you’ve overpaid

According to MoneySavingExpert.com this can be a bit trickier as not all councils allow you to apply for a backdated discount. But if they do, then you’ll need to write to them separately to your reduction claim, explaining your circumstances. You will need to prove that the discount applied at the relevant tim in the past.

Where to get help claiming a council tax discount

The Government Council Tax Reduction information is a good place to find information such as how to apply and how to find your local Council.

For those in the Adur District Council area, council tax information can be found on Adur & Worthing Councils website’s benefits page

For people in the Horsham area, information can be found on the Horsham District Council website’s council tax and benefits page.

Many of the main dementia and Alzheimer’s charities have information on this subject and offer support via their helplines.

The Alzheimer’s Society has a useful number of guides on Discounts, disregards and exemptions on council tax which also provides details about contacting the National Dementia Helpline.

Dementia UK operate the Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline which offers advice and support for anyone with a question or concern about dementia.

Get help from Right At Home Shoreham

We care for many types of adult client, and have a particular focus on varying forms of Dementia. If you’d like to discuss to discuss this issue, we are always happy to just chat, so please feel free to ring us on 01273 286172 or pop into our fantastic office located upstairs in the Main Terminal Building at Shoreham Airport