Don't worry, I filled it all in for OH. How would they know who did? If it hasn't been six months already, they'll just wait for that date before they pay. That's what happened when we applied for the higher rate when he had the lower rate already.
council tax
- Thread starter jikkie
- Start date
"...I feel a diagnosis of AZ constitutes a "severe mentally impaired..."
It's not the label given to the disease on diagnosis (schizophrenia, dementia, Alzheimer's,....) that is relavant.
What is relavant is the degree and permanence of the mental impairment, this is certified by the GP.
Not everybody diagnosed with dementia immediately suffers from 'severe impairment of intelligence which appears to be permanent'.
It's not the label given to the disease on diagnosis (schizophrenia, dementia, Alzheimer's,....) that is relavant.
What is relavant is the degree and permanence of the mental impairment, this is certified by the GP.
Not everybody diagnosed with dementia immediately suffers from 'severe impairment of intelligence which appears to be permanent'.
My understanding of this is that a person no longer pays ct when mentally they are no longer able to make decisions around their locality. It's interesting seeing the different responses to this post. I think each council and each doctor must interpret this differently. My council requires the person claiming to be on attendance allowance and the doctor dated our form of application as the date when his disease had progressed to a moderate level rather than date of diagnosis. So no backdated sum for me, but at least now get it.
So keep going through the process but not everyone gets backdated amounts.
So keep going through the process but not everyone gets backdated amounts.
Obviously councils take a different view from the sound of things. I can only say for me it was quite straightforward, I filled in a short form online, they e-mailed me and asked for a copy of the diagnosis letter and the DLA letter, I photographed these and attached them to an email sent it off and the cheque arrived in the post.
No application packs, no visits to the doctors to get forms signed just a couple of emails that was it. Backdated to the date of diagnosis.
Salford council at least seem to accept a diagnosis and the award of DLA as sufficient proof for a claim.
Below is a link to Cardiff (which is the LA in question here) Council's website application for a single persons discount, I'd fill that in and see what happens either that or go to the second link their "contact us" page for council tax reductions and fill in the bit at the bottom and explain the situation. They have to backdate it so there's no point In them dragging their feet/
K
https://cmsinet.cardiff.gov.uk/mand...er?MF_DEVICE=HTML&MF_XML=SinglePersonDiscount
https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resi...-reductions/Pages/Council-Tax-Reductions.aspx
No application packs, no visits to the doctors to get forms signed just a couple of emails that was it. Backdated to the date of diagnosis.
Salford council at least seem to accept a diagnosis and the award of DLA as sufficient proof for a claim.
Below is a link to Cardiff (which is the LA in question here) Council's website application for a single persons discount, I'd fill that in and see what happens either that or go to the second link their "contact us" page for council tax reductions and fill in the bit at the bottom and explain the situation. They have to backdate it so there's no point In them dragging their feet/
K
https://cmsinet.cardiff.gov.uk/mand...er?MF_DEVICE=HTML&MF_XML=SinglePersonDiscount
https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resi...-reductions/Pages/Council-Tax-Reductions.aspx
That's a good idea Kevin. I will speak to the GP, so we are in accord about a date for the "severe mental impairment", and then contact the council. It's pretty damning that they don't have a form for it on their website I think, they are definitely trying to keep it under the radar. I will say my OH has SMI, since blah blah... When the reply saying he must be in receipt of AA, I will then say why? He fulfils the legislative requirement of being SMI, which the doctor will confirm, and entitled.... whether he or we choose to claim it or not should be entirely up to us.
Thank you. I must admit I feel in quite a combative mood about it!
Thank you. I must admit I feel in quite a combative mood about it!
Everyone keeps mentioning AA, you only get this aged 65 or over, DLA middle rate or high rate are qualifying benefits too. We don't get AA (too young) but we do get middle rate DLA.
Don't you have the letter from the consultant at the memory clinic to your doctor giving the diagnosis, I used that to get the DLA, mobility allowance and council tax backdated to that date. If the diagnosis was made by the GP then that would be the date, possibly an email to your doctors practice manager asking for the date of the appointment (if you can remember roughly when it was) would do rather than taking up the doctors time.
K
"No application packs, no visits to the doctors to get forms signed just a couple of emails that was it. Backdated to the date of diagnosis."
How LAs handle an application is up to them, but they must:-
● Obtain proof of a qualifying benefit.
● Obtain a certificate from a doctor (normally the applicant's GP) confirming severe mental impairment and stating the date at which this commenced.
Most LAs send the certificate to the doctor without the applicant being aware although somewhere in the process the applicant should have given permission for the doctor to have been consulted.
My LA send a copy of the completed certificate with the confirmation of the disregard.
Note also that the certificate should be free, some GPs (or admin) try to charge for all 'certificates' - ~£15.
It is listed as a Prescribed Certificate and therefore must be FOC
9. To support a claim by or on behalf of a Local Government Finance Act 1992(q)
severely mentally impaired person for exemption from liability to pay the Council Tax or
eligibility for a discount in respect of the amount of Council Tax payable
Schedule 4
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/291/pdfs/uksi_20040291_en.pdf
How LAs handle an application is up to them, but they must:-
● Obtain proof of a qualifying benefit.
● Obtain a certificate from a doctor (normally the applicant's GP) confirming severe mental impairment and stating the date at which this commenced.
Most LAs send the certificate to the doctor without the applicant being aware although somewhere in the process the applicant should have given permission for the doctor to have been consulted.
My LA send a copy of the completed certificate with the confirmation of the disregard.
Note also that the certificate should be free, some GPs (or admin) try to charge for all 'certificates' - ~£15.
It is listed as a Prescribed Certificate and therefore must be FOC
9. To support a claim by or on behalf of a Local Government Finance Act 1992(q)
severely mentally impaired person for exemption from liability to pay the Council Tax or
eligibility for a discount in respect of the amount of Council Tax payable
Schedule 4
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/291/pdfs/uksi_20040291_en.pdf
I gave the GP a copy of the letter from the consultant, confirming John's diagnosis. The GP used this as "proof" and the Council Tax refund was back dated to the diagnosis date. But, I do think LAs are autonomous, and can come up with their own rules, and though in essence, the discount applies nationwide, the extent of the backdating seems to be a bit of a postcode lottery. Like NHS incontinence pants!
I remember the date the diagnosis was given, etched in memory forever, 7 December 2012, but I don't have any letter from the consultant.
However, we do have a very helpful and accessible GP, so will enquire....
Thank you Kevin, and others, for the help on this.
My husband is coming up to 82 now, and I am 63. We both have state pensions, no benefits. We miss pension credit levels by pennies.
However, we do have a very helpful and accessible GP, so will enquire....
Thank you Kevin, and others, for the help on this.
My husband is coming up to 82 now, and I am 63. We both have state pensions, no benefits. We miss pension credit levels by pennies.
As he's over 65 then you can claim attendance allowance (not means tested) here's the link you should be entitled to the higher rate in my opinion. You can fill the form in on line then print it of and post it.
K
https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/overview
K
https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/overview
I have the forms, they arrived yesterday. And I am getting someone from AgeConnect (a guy suggested by the local Alz Soc) to help me fill them in appropriately.
But I would think I am pushing it to get higher rate at present. I don't have to do much at night in all honesty. I just listen out that he is ok getting up to the loo several times, gets back to bed ok, and doesnt have the blinding light on.
But I would think I am pushing it to get higher rate at present. I don't have to do much at night in all honesty. I just listen out that he is ok getting up to the loo several times, gets back to bed ok, and doesnt have the blinding light on.
Frequency and time spent on tasks is also a factor. I've been told that 20 minutes or longer per nightly interruption, from waking up, seeing to them to settling them back in bed and making sure all is ok is a good indicator for the higher allowance. Even if it takes less time, write it all down as worst case scenario not best case. And if you can't get the higher rate now, you can always apply for it later once needs have changed, and that form isn't very long at all then.
I've now received the application forms from Cardiff Council to claim council tax discount. Seems to me the rules about "confirmation of entitlement to one of the following benefits" are set in stone. I don't think I will take them on for the sake of £8 pw, too much hassle. So I will wait until the AA is sorted out.
Having said that, the Age Connect guy understood my point, why should one have to claim a benefit in order to get the discount? He agreed that the "mere" fact of having severe mental impairment is the whole point. But as I say, I don't think it's worth getting into a major exchange of letters, appealing, and all the rest of it.
Having said that, the Age Connect guy understood my point, why should one have to claim a benefit in order to get the discount? He agreed that the "mere" fact of having severe mental impairment is the whole point. But as I say, I don't think it's worth getting into a major exchange of letters, appealing, and all the rest of it.
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You, and only you, can decide which battles you want to fight. When John was also diagnosed with a lung problem, which might have been a form of asbestosis, I could have contacted his firm where, 40 years ago, he dealt with asbestos.
But I had to choose which battles to fight, and the thought of seeing their specialists and consultants, and having to explain why John couldn't answer anything himself, because of AD, filled me with dread. It's hard enough being a carer, without having to resort to playing David opposite someone elses Goliath!
