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Disabled band reduction scheme

Disabled people are helped with their Council Tax through the disabled band reduction scheme. This makes sure disabled people don't pay more Council Tax because they needed a larger property due to their disability.

Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a reduction.

In summary, the requirements for a reduction are the property must be the main residence of at least one disabled person. It must also have at least one of:

The room or the wheelchair must also be of major importance to the disabled person's well-being, due to the extent of their disability.

'Disabled person' in this context means a person who is substantially and permanently disabled. The disabled person can be either an adult or a child and does not have to be responsible for paying the Council Tax bill.

An extra room does not need to have been specially built. But your home will not qualify for a reduction unless the 'essential or of major importance' test above is met. For example, simply rearranging rooms is unlikely to make your home eligible for a reduction.

What reduction you may get

If your home is eligible, your bill will be reduced to that of a property in the next Council Tax band down. For example, a Band D property will be charged a Band C rate. Even if your property is in Band A (the lowest band) you will still receive a reduction. It will be the same in cash terms as the reductions for homes in Band B, C or D.

Other Council Tax reductions for disabled people

People who are severely mentally impaired

For Council Tax purposes, a person is severely mentally impaired if they have a severe and permanent impairment of intelligence and social functioning. To be eligible for a Council Tax reduction, the person will need a doctor's certificate. This must state they're severely mentally impaired and entitled to one of the following benefits:

They may qualify for a Council Tax reduction if, both the following apply, the person:

• is over State Pension age
• would have been entitled to one of the above benefits if they were under State Pension age

People who are severely mentally impaired are not counted when adding up the number of people in a property. For example, a husband and wife who live together would get the usual discount of 25 per cent. This is the same discount that a single adult living alone would get if they had a severe mental impairment.

No Council Tax is payable on a property occupied solely by people with a severe mental impairment.

People receiving care in their own home

In some circumstances a resident carer is not counted when adding up the number of people in a property. Though not for example if you're receiving care from your spouse or partner. If just you and a carer live in your home then a 25 per cent single person discount may apply.

People in a hospital or care home

Council Tax is not payable on properties left unoccupied by people who have moved to receive personal care and it's now their main residence. For instance if they've moved to a hospital, care home or elsewhere.

Generally speaking, the residents of care homes or those whose main home is a hospital do not have to pay Council Tax.

More details about these arrangements can be found in the leaflet 'Council tax - a guide to your bill'.

• Council Tax - a guide to your bill (PDF document, 155K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Applying for Council Tax reduction for disabled people

• Council Tax reduction for disabled people - how to apply

Useful contacts

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