Claiming Council Tax Exemption/Discount

[mumof3]

Thanks to posts on TP I became aware that my MIL was eligible to claim exemption from Council Tax bills as she was in receipt of middle rate DLA and lived alone.

Within 3 weeks we received the claim form from her Local Authority, her GP had signed the relevant section, her claim was approved and a refund backdated to the start date of her DLA payments. Just amazing I thought after the long drawn out saga of the DLA claim.

This money will be really important in helping to fund the care package my MIL needs to keep her at home as long as possible and I would urge anyone who thinks their relative or loved one may be entitled to look into it. I simply emailed our local authority and they sent a standard single page application form.

Receipt of middle or high rate DLA would entitle someone with dementia to exemption from Council Tax if they live alone, or a discount if they live with someone. The GP or medical professional has to confirm severe mental impairment on the claim form. I think similar rules apply for someone with dementia in receipt of AA but I am not 100% clear as my MIL is under 65.

 

[Nebiroth]

I believe the same rules apply for AA. However, the discount available to carers (essentially, the house is treated in Council Tax terms as having a single occupant) is only available to homes with two occupants.

If there are more than two people in the home, no discount is available. Not even if (as in my case) we are a home of two disabled people getting AA and a carer (me).

So with one or two people, the disabled person "disappears" for Council Tax. Go over two people, and nothing can be done.

 

[jenniferpa]

This is somewhat timely - I was just looking at August's Issue of Share and imagine my surprise to find that the Question and Answer question was mine! Unfortunately, the answer given wasn't particularly helpful. Specifically, in order to get the council tax disregard, the vast majority of councils require the GP to sign the form, and as I indicated in my question, my Mother's GP won't. The AS society's suggestion was to either reapproach the GP (been there, done that) or go to "her specialist". Well, sorry, she doesn't have one of those. As it stands, I'm paying council tax, and frankly, waiting until she gets worse. There does not seem to be a work-around for this situation. I find the entire thing somewhat frustrating.

Jennifer

 

[Nebiroth]

That sounds awful! If your Mother is exhibiting signs of AD, or even worse her GP thinks she has it, why has she not been referred to a specialist?

I thought that AD diagnosis had to be from a specialist consultant who does the specific tests...this is what happened in our case.

Has your GP told you why your Mother is not being referred, or explained why he/she will not sign the form?

It sounds as though you are not getting the help you should be!

I have to say our GP is an absolute treasure who seems to know how to get appointments with consultants etc very quickly; after Dad saw him the consultant called to see us a week later!

He also managed to get mum seen by a neurologist and a CT scan very quickly for her Parkinson's.

 

[jenniferpa]

She doesn't have AD - she has had several strokes, resulting in total short term memory loss, among other things. So, no specialist. I think I'm goiing to write to him - when I'm over there other things take precedence, and I think he might find it harder to justify his position on paper.

Jennifer