For Council Tax purposes, a person is considered as severely mentally impaired if:
- he/she has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent; and
- a certificate is provided by a registered medical practitioner giving the date from which the person has been or was likely to have been severely mentally impaired; and
- he/she is entitled to one of the following:
- incapacity benefit
- employment and support allowance
- attendance allowance
- severe disablement allowance
- the care component of disability living allowance (payable at the middle or higher rate)
- increased disablement pension because constant attendance is required
- the disability element of working tax credit
- constant attendance allowance
- unemployability supplement or allowance
- income support where the applicable amount includes a disability premium
- the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment
- or has lost one of the above due to reaching pensionable age
A full exemption is awarded when a property is occupied wholly by one or more severely mentally impaired persons. A separate application form should be completed for each adult who is resident in the property.
If a property does not qualify for an exemption, a 50% discount may be awarded if all the adults resident in a property are in one of the special categories for council tax. These categories include people who are severely mentally impaired, carers, apprentices, students, student nurses and 18 year olds for whom child benefit is payable.
A 25% discount is awarded when all of the adults resident in a property, except one, are severely mentally impaired or belong to one of the categories outlined above.
To apply for the above discount or exemption, simply access your council tax account using your council tax account number, which is shown on the front of your last bill.