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  4. Severely mentally impaired, carers or disability discounts

Severely mentally impaired, carers or disability discounts

Severe mental impairment

A severely mentally impaired discount can be a full exemption if all occupiers of the property meet the criteria for this discount. If there are two adults residing in the property and one meets the criteria for the discount then you can get a 25% reduction.

To qualify a doctor must confirm that there is an impairment and you also need to be receiving one of the following benefits:

  • an increase in disablement pension for constant attendance
  • Attendance Allowance (AA)
  • constant Attendance Allowance payable under the industrial injuries or war pension schemes
  • disabled  person's  tax  credit, but only if this is because of the prior receipt of IB or SDA  from 1 April 1997
  • Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Incapacity Benefit (IB)
  • Income Support that includes a disability premium
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
  • the highest or middle rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Unemployability Allowance payable under the industrial injuries or war pension schemes
  • Unemployability Supplement (this was abolished in 1987 but existing claimants remain entitled)

To apply please complete our application form. If you would like us to send you an application form please contact us.

Carers

You may qualify for the carer discount based on two separate criteria:

Option one

  • the carer lives in the property with the person receiving care as their main residence
  • the care is provided for at least 35 hours per week

The person receiving the care needs to receive one of the following benefits:

  • high or middle-rate disability living allowance (DLA)
  • receiving a disability pension
  • Attendance Allowance
  • constant Attendance Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
  • armed forces independence payments

Option two

Care is provided on behalf of:

  • a Local Authority
  • the Common Council of the City of London
  • the Council of the Isles of Scilly
  • the Crown
  • a charitable organisation

The carer must be employed by the person receiving the care and have been introduced by one of the organisations above and:

  • employed for at least 24 hours a week
  • they must not receive more than £44.00 of pay per week
  • they must reside in premises provided by one of the organisations above or by the employer

Apply

Disabled

If your home has been adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person then you may be able to get a reduction.

You can get a reduction if your home has at least one of these facilities:

  • a room, other than a bathroom, a kitchen or toilet, which is mainly used by and required for meeting the needs of the disabled person
  • a second bathroom or kitchen required for meeting the needs of the disabled person
  • sufficient floor space to permit the use of a wheelchair which is used indoors

The discounted reduction you get will be equal to one band lower than the actual band of your home. For example, if your property is in Band D you will pay Band C.

You will also need to provide proof of the rooms that have been adapted and provide a doctor's letter confirming the use of a wheelchair.

Apply