COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA
and others who are severely mentally impaired
Households that include people suffering from severe mental impairment, including (but not limited to) those with Alzheimer's or 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, can apply for a council tax discount or exemption.
 Address	Council tax account reference	Number of residents aged 18 or over	
			
Please give details of the property: 

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 (see below).
Please list below those living at the property who meet these criteria:
 Full name	Date s/he became impaired	Qualifying benefit(s)	Date s/he became entitled	

				
				
We will need a certificate signed by a doctor for each qualifying person in the household, and evidence of entitlement to a qualifying benefit (see overleaf for details).

Qualifying benefits are:
•	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
Declaration
Birmingham City Council has a duty to maintain accurate records for billing and collection of council tax. In order to meet this requirement the City periodically reviews all records including those where allowances discounts and reliefs are granted. These records may be checked by using information already held by the City and its partner organisations such as credit referencing agencies to identify cases where such allowances, discounts and reliefs no longer apply.
I declare the information that I have given is correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand the council may make enquiries to verify the information I have given. I will notify you immediately if circumstances change that will affect the amount of council tax charged.
Your full name		
				
Your signature		Date		
				
Relationship to applicant/capacity in which signing		
		
Telephone number			
					
Email address		

Doctor’s Certificate (to be filled in by a registered medical practitioner)
Before completing this certificate, please read the guidance notes overleaf.

Full name of patient	Patient’s home address	
		
Name of person requesting a certificate
(if different to the above)	Address to which the certificate is to be returned (if different to the above)	

For council tax purposes, a person is severely mentally impaired if they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent.

Please give details as requested below.  When completed, this form should be returned to the applicant/person acting on behalf of the applicant

	In my opinion, the person named above is severely mentally impaired as a result  of the following condition(s):	
	…………………………………………………………………………........………………	
	and has been so since ……………………………….	
		
	In my opinion, the person named above does not meet the definition of severely mentally impaired for council tax purposes because:	
	……………………………………………………………………………………………….	

Doctor’s full name			
Official stamp	
						
Doctor’s signature		Date				
						
Telephone number				
				
Email address				

COUNCIL TAX REDUCTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH
SEVERE MENTAL IMPAIRMENT

Guidance for registered medical practitioners

Households that include people suffering from severe mental impairment, including those with Alzheimer's or 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, may be entitled to a council tax discount or exemption.
To give rise to a reduction, there has to be 
“a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent”.
and entitlement to at least one of a number of qualifying benefits.

The definition is not the same as the definition of “severe mental impairment” in the Mental Health Act 1983, and being classified as severely mentally impaired for the council tax purposes does not affect the right to vote or to be included in the electoral register, which is compiled separately.

The applicant (or person acting on his/her behalf) will pass a certificate to a general practitioner or other registered medical practitioner with knowledge of the applicant for completion.

A decision about the presence of severe mental impairment will, in all cases, depend on the doctor’s clinical judgment as to whether the applicant meets these criteria.

If a doctor is uncertain whether an applicant’s intelligence and social functioning are such as to constitute severe mental impairment he may wish to seek information and advice from the appropriate medical colleagues or from colleagues in other professions, or from carers who may be able to help with information based on their knowledge of the applicant. 

If, after such consultation, a doctor is still uncertain as to whether the applicant is severely mentally impaired he or she should not sign the certificate.

The certificate will need to be returned to the applicant so it can be sent back with the application form.

Please note that a charge cannot be made for this: https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/fees/certificates-no-charge

The doctor may retain a copy of the certificate.