Discounts and exemptions

If someone you live with is severely mentally impaired, you may qualify for  be able to apply for a discount.

If you are severely mentally impaired 

You will not have to pay council tax if: 

• you live on your own 
• other adults in the property are also severely mentally impaired or are full-time students

If you live with someone who is severely mentally impaired  

You will get a 25% discount if you live with someone who qualifies as severely mentally impaired and: 

• there are no other adults living in the property
• everyone else in the home is not counted for council tax purposes  

You will get a 50% discount if you live with someone who qualifies as severely mentally impaired if: 

• a severely mentally impaired person lives with you, and you’re their carer 
• a landlord is liable for the Council Tax on a property where all the adult residents are severely mentally impaired

How discounts and exemptions affect your bill

Some people are not counted (disregarded) when working out how many people live in a property. This means you may be able to apply for a discount on your Council Tax bill.

Find out more about who has to pay Council Tax

Find out if you’re eligible for discount

To qualify, you must be: 

• over 18
• liable for Council Tax
• medically certified with a permanent condition that impacts intelligence and social functioning
• entitled to at least one of the following qualifying benefits:
  • incapacity allowance
  • attendance allowance
  • severe disablement allowance
  • care component of a disability living allowance
  • increase in rate of disablement pension (where constant attention needed)
  • disability working allowance
  • unemployment support allowance
  • constant attendance allowance
  • income support which includes a disability premium
  • employment support allowance (support component)
  • universal credit including a work capability element
  • standard or enhanced daily living component of a Personal Independence Payment.

How to apply 

Before you apply, make sure you have: 

• your doctor’s details
• evidence of the qualifying benefit(s) you receive. We will need the latest award letter, not the annual increase letter.

Apply now

Allow us to talk or write to someone else on your behalf 

Your Council Tax account is private and confidential. We will only discuss your account with authorised people. 

If you would like us to talk or write to a friend or relative on your behalf, you will need to send us a signed letter of authority that includes:

• the name of the person you would like us to contact
• how long you would like this authority to last 

If someone has legal authority to make decisions on your behalf (lasting power of attorney), they will need to send us a certified copy or an online summary of the lasting power of attorney document.