Information for Carers

This page provides details on the reductions in Council Tax bills that may be available to carers or the people they care for. It also contains some additional information on other support available to carers in Darlington.

You or the person you care for may be able to receive a reduction in Council Tax for any of the following reasons:

• the nature of the property
• the category of people who live in it
• if you are on a low income.

More detail about each of these reasons is provided below. Information for Carers [pdf document]

A. The nature of the Property 

1.   Exemption - certain dwellings are exempt from Council Tax altogether, including:

• A dwelling where all the adult residents are severely mentally impaired
• A dwelling where all the adult residents are severely mentally impaired and / or students
• An annexe, flat or similar self-contained property occupied by a dependent relative of a person living in the main part of the building
• An unoccupied dwelling where the liable person is receiving care elsewhere other than in a hospital, care home, nursing home or hostel, because of old age, disablement, illness, alcohol / drug dependence or mental disorder and is not expected to return
• An unoccupied dwelling where the liable person is providing care elsewhere to a person because of old age, disablement, illness, alcohol/drug dependence or mental disorder.

More information on Exemptions from Council Tax/Application forms

2.   Disabled Reduction - a Council Tax bill can be reduced if the property has been adapted to meet the needs of a permanently and substantially disabled resident.  A property will qualify for a reduction if it includes any of the following;

• A room – not a bathroom, a kitchen or a lavatory - used mainly by and required to meet the needs and well being of the disabled resident
• An additional bathroom or kitchen required to meet the needs and well being of the disabled resident
• Space for a wheelchair used by the disabled resident inside the dwelling.

The reduction given is equivalent to reducing the Council Tax band of the property to the valuation band immediately below its full band.  For example, if the reduction is awarded for a property in band D, the Council Tax bill will be the amount payable on a property in band C.   A dwelling in band A (the lowest band) which qualifies for relief will get a reduction of 1/6th of the charge for property in band A.

More information on Disabled Band Reduction/Application form

B. About the People living in the Property

In some circumstances a discount may be given on a Council Tax bill of either 25% or 50% of the full amount.  This is because certain people are disregarded (not counted) when looking at the number of residents in a dwelling. 

Some of the groups of people who are disregarded are Carers, Care Workers and People who are Severely Mentally Impaired.  Details are as follows:

1.   Carers a person could be disregarded if they provide care for someone and the following criteria are met:

• They live in the same dwelling as the person they care for
• The person being cared for is not their spouse, partner or child under 18 years old
• They provide care for at least 35 hours a week on average, and
• The person being cared for is entitled to one of the following benefits;
  - Higher Rate of Attendance Allowance
  - High Rate Care Component of Disability Living Allowance
  - Increase in Constant Attendance Allowance under the Industrial Injuries or War Pension Scheme
  - Highest Rate of Constant Attendance Allowance on top of Full Rate of Disablement Benefit paid for Industrial Injury.
  The carer does not have to receive a carers allowance themselves and it is possible for more than one person to be disregarded as a carer if they meet the criteria.  

Carers application form [pdf document] 

2.   Care Workers – a person could be disregarded for council tax if they are employed to provide care to someone and the following criteria are met:

•  They live in a property provided by the employer to enable them to provide better care
•  They are employed by a charitable organisation or a public authority, or they were introduced to the person(s) they care for by a charitable organisation or a public authority
• They provide care or support for at least  24 hours a week, and
• They get less than £44 each week from the employer for providing care or support (before any deduction for things such as income tax). 

Care Workers application form [pdf document] 

3.   People who are Severely Mentally Impaired - a person could be disregarded for Council Tax if they are severely mentally impaired and the following criteria are met;

• They have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent
• Their impairment is confirmed by a registered medical practitioner, and
• They are entitled to one of the following benefits (or would be entitled if they were not of pensionable age, or if their partner was not getting a premium in their Job Seeker’s Allowance for them
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Income Support including Disability Premium
  • Care Component of the Disability Living Allowance (payable at higher or middle rate)
  • Increased Disablement Pension (where constant attendance is needed)
  • Constant Attendance Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Disabled Working Allowance
  • Unemployability Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Unemployability Supplement

Severely Mentally Impaired application form [pdf document]

This means if there are two or more adults in a dwelling and all but one of them is disregarded, the bill will be worked out as if only one adult lives there and a discount of 25% awarded (disregard discount).

In some households all the adults may be disregarded and a maximum discount of 50% may be given (2 disregard discounts).

More information on Council Tax discounts / application forms

C. Household Income

Council Tax Benefit can help people on low incomes to pay their bill whether or not there is entitlement to disabled band reduction or discount. 

You do not have to be claiming income support or job seeker's allowance to get council tax benefit – you could also claim if you are:

• A Pensioner
• Working
•  Getting any other benefits
• Getting tax credits

If you do not have a partner but there is another adult on a low income living in your household, you might be able to get Second Adult Rebate from your bill in respect of that person.  For more information about this, please contact us by using the contact details below.

More information on Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate  / application form

More Information and Making an Application

In appropriate circumstances it is possible for a household to qualify for all or any of disabled band reduction, discount and Council Tax Benefit / Second Adult Rebate. If however a property qualifies for exemption it may not receive any of the other reductions as there is no Council Tax due.

If you think you, your household or someone you care for could be entitled to any of these reductions please contact us straightaway.  More information, advice and application forms are available as follows:-

In person or in writing: Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington DL1 5QT

Phone:  01325 388373

My Darlington +

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