Can I get a disability related reduction?

You may be able to get a disability-related reduction in your Council Tax (or Rates in Northern Ireland) if your home has one of the following features:

• An extra bathroom or kitchen for the person who is disabled to use.
• A room which is 'predominantly' used by the disabled person. For example, it could be a downstairs room in a two-storey house which the disabled person has to use as a bedroom. Or it could be a room that has been adapted specifically for the disabled person to use.
• Sufficient floor space so that the disabled person can use a wheelchair in the home.

You will also need to show that this feature is essential, or of major importance, to the well being of the person who is disabled. You must be able to show that the room or space is needed because of the person's disability and that they would not need it if they were not disabled. In this sense the room or space must be 'extra'. However, you do not need to have specially adapted a room or to have built a new room.

How much of a disability related reduction will I receive?

If you qualify for the reduction your council tax bill will be reduced to the amount payable for a home in the valuation band below yours. So, if your home is in Band D, it will be reduced to the amount for band C. If your home is in Band A you will get a reduction of one-sixth of your bill.

In Northern Ireland the reduction will be 25% of your rates.

How do I apply for a disability related reduction?

To apply for the reduction contact your local authority, if you are in Northern Ireland you should contact Land & Property Services.

You may be asked to send in supporting evidence with your application form. In particular, you may be asked to supply a letter from a doctor or other professional confirming the extent of your disability and how it affects you. It should also highlight how you use additional equipment in your home and whether you could cope without it. A home visit may be required to see how your property has been adapted.

Severely mentally impaired

If you are diagnosed as "severely mentally impaired" you don't have to pay Council Tax and will receive a 100% discount if you live alone. If you live in a household where everyone else is disregarded from paying Council Tax you will get a 50% discount. Households where one person qualifies as severely mentally impaired and everyone else is not disregarded qualify for a 25% discount. Choose the appropriate rate in answer to the 'Discounts applicable?' question.

A person is severely mentally impaired if they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent, such as dementia.

To claim for a severely mentally impaired or SMI discount, the person must have been certified as having a severe mental impairment by a doctor, and be eligible for, but not necessarily receiving, at least one disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance.