Council Tax Reduction for People with Dementia

To help pay for local services, local authorities such as Birmingham City Council charge residential properties (owner-occupied or rented) council tax. If you are living with dementia or caring for a person with dementia, it may affect how much council tax you pay and you may be entitled to a reduction in council tax.

This reduction also applies to households that include people living with severe mental impairment, such as Parkinson’s disease, those who have suffered a stroke, those with severe learning difficulties and those who have suffered such impairment as a result of injury,

To qualify for a discount or exemption, someone must be medically certified as having a condition that affects their intelligence and social functioning that appears to be permanent, and be entitled to (but not necessarily receiving) at least one of a number of qualifying benefits such as:

• Incapacity benefit
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• Unemployability supplement as an increase to Disablement Pension
• Increase in the rate of Disablement Pension as constant attendance is needed
• Unemployability supplement payable with War Disablement Pension
• Care component of Disability Living Allowance at the higher or middle rate
• Disabled Persons Tax Credit where previously entitled to Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
• Income Support disability premium awarded on the grounds of incapacity for work
• Jobseeker’s Allowance if received by the partner of the severely mentally impaired person
• Personal Independence Payment  with a standard or enhanced daily living component
• Armed Forces independence payment
• Disability Working  Allowance where based on getting Income Support including disability premium
• Universal Credit including an element for limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity

Birmingham City Council will need a certificate signed by a doctor for each qualifying person in the household, and evidence of entitlement to a qualifying benefit.

Here is a copy of the form to complete. If you need any help completing the form, one of Birmingham Carers Hub’s advisors can help you. You can email info@birminghamcarershub.org.uk or call 0333 006 9711.