Council Tax discounts if you live with an adult who has a severe mental impairment

If you live with an adult with a severe mental impairment, you could be missing out on a Council Tax discount. The discount is 25 per cent minimum off your Council Tax bill.

To qualify for the discount, the adult with a severe mental impairment needs to be receiving at least one of the following benefits and have a certificate from a GP. Although being severely mentally impaired is a medical diagnosis in itself, the underlying cause could be a condition such as dementia, profound learning difficulties, the result of a severe stroke, or something else.

• Incapacity benefit
• Attendance allowance
• Severe disablement allowance
• Disability living allowance (higher or middle-rate care component)
• Increase in disablement pension (due to constant attendance being needed)
• Unemployability supplement or allowance
• Constant attendance allowance
• Income support (which includes a disability premium)
• Personal independence payment (standard or enhanced daily living component)
• Armed forces independence payment
• Disability working allowance (based on getting income support including disability premium)
• Universal credit (including an element for limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity).

Adults who have been diagnosed as severely mentally impaired may be entitled to a Council Tax discount or if they live alone exempt from paying Council Tax altogether. This means that their households could be entitled to claim one of the following Council Tax discounts.

• If you are an adult with a severe mental impairment who lives alone or with one or more other adults who also have a severe mental impairment, you are exempt from paying Council Tax altogether.
• A 50 per cent Council Tax discount may apply if you are an adult with a severe mental impairment living with an adult carer.
• A 25 per cent Council Tax discount will apply if you are an adult with a severe mental impairment and you live with one other adult who is not severally mentally impaired.

When an adult with severe mental impairment lives with two or more other adults who are not severally mentally impaired then no Council Tax discount applies.

How to apply

1. You can read more about Council Tax discounts for adults with a severe mental impairment and apply online using the link below.
2. To complete the application, you will need a certificate from a GP showing that the individual has a severe mental impairment.
3. You might also be asked to provide evidence that you receive relevant benefits to qualify for the Council Tax discount.

Severely mentally impaired | Cheshire West and Chester Council

If you would like more information, you can contact Citizens Advice Cheshire West. You can also ask them about other benefits you might be eligible for.

Tel: 0808 2787 806