Council Tax - Disabled Band Reduction
The Disabled Band Reduction Scheme aims to ensure that disabled
people do not pay more Council Tax because they live in a larger
property than they would have needed if they were not disabled.
Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a
reduction.
The requirements state that the property must be the main
residence of at least one disabled person (adult or
child) and you must meet at least one of the
following criteria:
- there is a room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet)
required to meet the needs of the disabled person, and used
predominantly by them (for example a room used for dialysis
equipment)
- there is an additional bathroom or kitchen required to meet the
needs of the disabled person
- a wheelchair used indoors by the disabled person
'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 a
dwelling will not qualify unless the room is of essential or of
major importance to the disabled person. Simply rearranging rooms -
for example, having a bedroom on the ground floor rather than the
first floor - is unlikely to make a dwelling eligible for a
reduction.
Apply
The Disabled
Relief Claim Form (PDF, 55KB) gives as much detail as
possible but any queries should be directed to the Council Tax
Section.
Please note all eligible application forms received will be
followed up by a visit from the Council's outside Inspector. The
completed form should ideally contain a telephone number for the
Council's Inspector to arrange a convenient visit.
Other Discounts Available
Severe Mental Impairment
A reduction in Council Tax may apply for a person who has a
severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which
appears to be permanent. To be eligible the person will need a
doctor's certificate saying that they are severely mentally
impaired and to be entitled to certain qualifying benefits.
Carers
People who care for someone (not a partner or child under 18)
may be disregarded if the person being cared for is in receipt of
certain benefits.
The application forms for these two discounts can be found in
the list of People Disregarded
for the purpose of Council Tax
