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Disabled person discount

Reductions for disabled people

Your Council Tax can be reduced by one band if your property has been adapted for the needs of your disability or a disabled person who lives with you. The disabled person can be any adult or child in your household.

To qualify for a reduction, your home must have been adapted in at least one of the following ways:

  • a room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) is predominantly used by the disabled person - for example for providing therapy
  • an extra bathroom is required to meet the needs of a disabled person - this should include a bath or shower as well as a toilet
  • an extra kitchen is required to meet the needs of the disabled person
  • sufficient floor space indoors to permit use of wheelchair by the disabled person

If your property is already in Council Tax band A, the reduction will be the difference between band A and band B. In 2024/25, this is a reduction of £254.31 per year.

Council Tax Disabled Band Reduction form

Severe mental impairment discount

Severe mental impairment means a permanent condition that severely affects a persons intellectual or social function.

Adults living in a property who have been diagnosed with a severe mental impairment may be eligible for Council Tax discount.

Discount eligibility

To be eligible for the discount, you must be able to show that:

  • medical confirmation of the severe mental impairment, and
  • are receiving or are entitled to a qualifying benefit.

Severe mental impairment confirmation

You are able to show that a doctor, GP, consultant or other medically qualified person has confirmed a person as severely mentally impaired.

The medical definition is recognised as; a person is severely mentally impaired if they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning, however caused, which appears to be permanent.

Eligibility for a Council Tax discount will require a doctor's certification of the impairment and is not dependent on the condition diagnosed.

Other qualifying benefit

You are able to show that a person with a severe mental impairment qualifies for or already receives one of the following disability benefits:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Constant Attendance Allowance (Industrial Injuries or War Disablement)
  • Disability Living Allowance (care component at the highest or middle rate)
  • Disability Pension (the increased rate)
  • Disability Working Allowance
  • Employment Support Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Personal Independence Payment (standard or enhanced rate)
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Unemployability Supplement/Allowance
  • Universal Credit (either limited capability elements).

Proof of qualification or receipt of any of the above benefits could be a letter or email from the Department for Work and Pensions. The letter or email should show that a person is entitled to or is receiving the qualifying benefit.

Discount rates and how to apply

There are different discount rates, depending on who else lives in the household and their circumstances. Another person in the property may also qualify for a Council Tax reduction or exemption too.

Household type Reduction rate
All adults resident are severely mentally impaired 100 percent exemption
Two or more adults resident qualify for a discount, but only one is severely mentally impaired 50 percent discount or 100 percent exemption, depending on the discount types
Two adults resident, but one is severely mentally impaired 25 percent discount
Three adults resident, with two qualifying for Council Tax discount for either severe mental impairment or other type of discount 25 percent discount
Three or more adults resident but only one qualifies for Council Tax discount, such as severe mental impairment No discount

The person responsible for Council Tax, or someone on their behalf, should complete an application for severe mental impairment discount.

When applying, you will need to:

  • upload proof of a qualifying benefit, whether it is being claimed or not
  • provide the doctor's name and address
  • give permission for us to contact the doctor in relation to the discount application.

An application must be made for each individual living in a property who is severely mentally impaired.

Apply for Council Tax discount for severe mental impairment

We aim to process your application within 20 working days, subject to receiving a medical certificate from your doctor. If you haven't heard from us within this time, we advise you contact your doctor to check that they have sent the certificate to us.

If you qualify for a discount, we'll send you a revised Council Tax bill.

If you are unsuccessful, we will tell you why we have not awarded the discount.