Regardless as to whether the local council have replied to your letter or not, you have four months from the date you originally wrote to the council disputing the bill to appeal the decision. A registered medical practitioner … In England, if you make a formal challenge and disagree with the VOA’s decision, you can appeal to the Independent Valuation Tribunal. For more information on Council Tax exemptions contact your local council. Carer’s Allowance is taxable. Bob can be disregarded as he is under 18 years old. If you’re a carer. The VOCAL e-bulletin is sent via email approximately once per month. Note: When applying for discretionary funds, you should provide full details about your circumstances and about how being a carer impacts on your finances. We will keep campaigning until every carer gets proper recognition and support. The national scheme of Council Tax Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Support from April 2013. State of Caring is the most comprehensive survey into the lives and experiences of carers, A Carer Passport is a record which identifies a carer and sets out an offer of support, Carers UK will bring together key speakers and sector leaders who will outline their vision of the new landscape for health and care. You can get a reduction of one band on your council tax (eg. VOCAL Money Matters factsheet (Edinburgh), VOCAL Money Matters factsheet (Midlothian). Personal Independence Payment (enhanced rate of daily living component). A disability reduction will mean that the council tax bill is reduced to the amount payable for a home in the valuation band below yours. If you don't pay your Council Tax bill and your account is passed to enforcement agents an immediate fee of £75.00 will be added to … Council Tax disregard: carers and care workers. You will have to make a backdated application and provide evidence of eligibility. These are based on the council tax band of your home and will be detailed on your council tax bill. To find out if you are eligible contact your local council. Apply to your local council for Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Support). In Northern Ireland, people on low incomes, including pensioners, may receive a reduction in their rates through the Rate Relief Scheme. Your local council will calculate how much CTR you are entitled to, based on your income and savings. To apply for an exemption you would need to contact the Council Tax department of your local council. Where can I find out more about benefits for carers? Contact the Scottish Assessors Association. Your local council can check what Council Tax Reduction you should be getting. Sign up to run anything from 5k to a full marathon - plus many more fun events and challenges! Therefore there would be one resident considered to be living in the property, and therefore a 25% discount would be applied to the Council Tax bill. Council tax is a charge that local authorities make on residential properties in England and Wales to help pay for local services. If a household with two or more adults is in receipt of full 100% CTR then the full 25% water reduction will apply. The amount of council tax support you will get depends on many factors, including: which benefits you receive; your age; your income; your savings; who you live with; how much council tax you pay Council Tax bills are generally based on the assumption that there are at least two adults living in the property. If you currently get Council Tax Benefit you will be transferred over to the new scheme automatically. Carers may be eligible to receive a reduction on their council tax bill depending on their circumstances. This is not a discount. Jenny cannot be disregarded. In some cases reductions, discounts and exemptions can be backdated. However, if a person is registered as disabled with their local council, this should be enough to satisfy this condition (although this does not mean that someone who is not on the register would not fit this condition). ... Carers. You will need to continue to pay the bill until the matter is resolved. When an adult has died, you must tell us so that we can make sure that you or the estate only pays the right amount of Council tax and no more. For example occupational or personal pensions or part-time earnings. Your eligibility for Housing Benefit will be assessed in the first instance and if you do not qualify for full Housing Benefit, you will then be assessed for Rate Relief. See here for some information on Rate Relief in Northern Ireland. You can ask for an exemption to be backdated to the date the qualifying conditions were met. Registered charity number 246329 (England & Wales) and SC039307 (Scotland) Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales number 864097, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display, What to do if you cannot pay your council tax bill, you have left the property empty and it is no longer your main residence because you are providing personal care due to old age, disablement, illness, alcohol or drug dependence, or mental disorder, the only person(s) living in the property is severely mentally impaired and no one else could be liable to pay Council Tax, the property has been left empty by someone who is now resident in a hospital, a care home or a hostel where personal care is provided - during temporary hospital stays you are still liable for Council Tax, there are at least two self-contained dwellings within a single property and one occupant is a ‘dependent relative’ of someone resident in another part of the property - the exemption applies to the part of the property where the dependent relative is resident and that dependent relative must be aged 65 or over, severely mentally impaired or ‘substantially and permanently disabled’, you must provide care for at least 35 hours a week, you must live in the same property as the person you care for, you must not be the spouse or partner of the person you care for, or their parent if you care for a child under 18, the person you care for must be getting either the middle or higher rate of the care component of, have a certificate from a registered medical practitioner confirming this. The council tax for these properties will now be a higher percentage of the Band D rate than previously. James spends 35 hours a week looking after his 23-year-old son Adam who has severe learning disabilities and receives the middle rate care component of Disability Living Allowance and is considered to be ‘severely mentally impaired’. 60 Leith Walk Foster carers can receive Council Tax relief if they’re on a low income or claim benefits. Do you qualify for a reduction? Most of this information applies to people living in England, Wales & Scotland. EDINBURGH You can find more information about the benefit cap here. If, after taking into account disregarded people, there is only one resident in the property who would ‘count’ for council tax a 25% discount is applied to the bill. Edinburgh Carers' Hub If you live alone in your home you will be entitled to a 25% single person’s discount. From April 2013 Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by local Council Tax Reduction schemes run by local authorities. Confusingly, it may also be called Council Tax Reduction. Council tax applies to both owner-occupied and rented homes. Mina has a home which is placed in Council Tax Band C, meaning she has to pay £800 a year. If they agree your band is wrong, they will correct it. This means that each local council (England) or nation Government (Scotland and Wales) designs its own scheme and has the responsibility to decide who it supports with paying their council tax bill. Information and advice on council tax and council tax reductions for carers / people looking after someone in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham. Some local councils have their own local discretionary funds for Council Tax. This means Mina is placed in Council Tax Band B, paying only £500 a year. If two or more household members (aged over 18) aren’t students, there is no reduction. Your council will then update your Council Tax bill. Cases have clarified that if an extra room is required it means that it is additional, ie it would not be required for the relevant purpose if the person were not disabled. The reduction is graduated to reflect entitlement to CTR and is calculated on the same daily basis as CTR. The reduction is made by charging council tax at the valuation band below the one the property is in. To be considered a carer, you need to meet the following conditions: 1. you live in the same home as the person you provide care for 2. the person receiving care isn't your spouse, partner or child under the age of 18 3. you provide at least 35 hours a week of care to a person who is entitled to receive one of the following: 3.1. any rate of Attendance Allowance 3.2. the middle or highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance 3.3. any … You can't claim Housing Benefit to help pay your rates if you receive Universal Credit. Carers may be eligible for a reduction of their council tax bill, depending on their circumstances. There are a number of circumstances in which properties can be exempt from Council Tax. As a care leaver, you may be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax until you reach the age of 21. However, low income households can apply from exemption from the increases. The Government in Scotland does offer the second adult rebate, whereas the Government in Wales does not offer it. If you feel that your home is in the wrong Council Tax band you should contact the following organisations: Contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) on 03000 501 501 (England) or 03000 505 505 (Wales). For those carers who do go on to receive the discount, the difference is noticeable. To be classed as a ‘carer’ for Council Tax you must meet the following criteria: Where care is provided on a voluntary basis. Council Tax is charged on all homes. To apply for the disability reduction scheme you would need to contact the council tax department of your local council. New claims for Council Tax Reduction should still be made to your local council as normal. You may qualify for a discount for carers if you're a carer. Download a list of all available discounts and how you qualify for them. They may be able to arrange a payment plan with you or put you in touch with other agencies who can help you with debt management. Council Tax when somebody has died. If you are fostering a disabled child, then you may qualify for a Disability Reduction in your Council Tax bill. e.g. All the residents in this property can be disregarded so a 50% discount would be applied to the Council Tax bill. However, pensioners can backdate claims for up to three months. If you are eligible for both CTR and second adult rebate, you will be paid the higher of the two. The following circumstances are particularly relevant for carers and those for whom they are caring: Note: This list of exemptions is not exhaustive. If you are living with dementia or caring for a person with dementia, it may affect how much council tax you pay. Council Tax April 2013 to March 2019. Note: In Scotland CTR will apply to your council tax charge only and not any water and sewerage charges included in your bill. Carer's Allowance recipients may be able to get discount on their Council Tax CARER'S ALLOWANCE is a payment which unpaid carers may be able to claim, if … If the council have not replied to your letter you have four months from the date you originally wrote to the council disputing the bill. if you are on band B you will get a reduction to band A). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website and by continuing to use this site you are giving consent to cookies being used. Mina has a home which is placed in Council Tax Band C, meaning she has to pay £800 a year. For example if your property is in band D, the council tax bill will be worked out as if it were in band C. This reduction also applies if your home is in band A. We provide support for carers in Edinburgh and Midlothian. If it can’t be resolved through discussion, it will be sent to the local Valuation Appeal Committee for a decision. If you are liable for council tax, you can apply for CTR if you are on a low income. Caring can be complicated. Contact us. Council Tax discounts and reduction: Carers | GOV.WALES To be ‘disregarded’ as a carer, you must meet all the following criteria: You do not have to claim Carer’s Allowance to qualify for this discount, and your income and savings will not affect your eligibility. However, if only one person or no-one lives in the property (or it is treated as such) a discount can be applied to the bill. In some circumstances, their bill can be reduced by as much as up to 100%. In Scotland, if you disagree with the council’s decision, or you don’t hear back within two months, you can appeal to the Valuation Appeal Committee. Note: If a property is occupied by more than one person considered to be ‘severely mentally impaired’ it is also exempt. A disability reduction will mean that the council tax bill is reduced to the amount payable for a home in the valuation band below yours. © Copyright Carers UK 2014. For carers of an elderly / older person, or a person with a physical disability / mental health problem / learning disability / dementia / a disabled person. You'll need to contact your local authority for a claim form to register for a council tax discount (find contact details via the Government's 'Apply for Council Tax Reduction' service). The bill will not increase if there are more than two people living in the property. Fred and Julie can both be disregarded as carers. Example. These funds may fall under different names, such as the Resident Support Scheme or Hardship Fund. What financial support is available for carers? It is only available to carers who care for an adult child, elderly parent or a friend (so not your spouse, partner or child under 18 years old). If there is more than one carer in the property, they can both be disregarded for council tax purposes as long as they all meet the conditions. there is a room (other than a bathroom, toilet or kitchen) needed and predominantly used by the disabled person. They must be entitled to one of the Benefits below – Please save the document to your device before completion. You will need to appeal within three months of the VOA’s decision. there is an additional bathroom or kitchen in the property which is needed by the disabled person, there is a room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) needed by and mainly used by the disabled person, there is enough space in the property for the disabled person to use a wheelchair indoors. EH22 3NX. The Rate Relief Scheme helps you if you are: When you apply for Housing Benefit, you will also be assessed for Rate Relief. In addition, one of the following conditions has to be met: There is no general test of who is considered ‘substantially and permanently disabled’. Find the email address of your local VOA office online. Your own income and capital are not taken into consideration for second adult rebate. If there is another adult living in your home who is not your partner, does not pay you rent and is on a low income you can get a reduction of up to 25% off your bill. The person with the mental impairment must complete a form, get it signed by their GP and return it to the council tax department to confirm their illness. From April 2013 Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by local Council Tax Reduction schemes run by local authorities. Backdating may be limited to six years. If the council have replied to your letter you have two months from the date of their reply to appeal the decision. ... Disabilities reduction Dwelling exemption . With your help we can reach more carers with timely support and advice. We double council tax when a property's unoccupied for 12 months or more - this is called the Long Term Empty Property Tariff and is designed to encourage you to deal with empty properties. You can get details on applying to your local council for Council Tax Reduction from GOV.UK. There are a number of ways in which you might be able to get help with your Council Tax bill. Note: Second adult rebate (or alternative maximum CTR) is a different way of getting help towards your council tax bill. Full Council Tax to pay. We're here for you with help and advice. Contact your local Council Tax department to find out more. This means that if you do not qualify for Housing Benefit, or only qualify for partial Housing Benefit, you may still be able to get help with your rates through the Rate Relief Scheme. They may be able to help with form filling through to appeals tribunals. CTR is not counted as part of the benefit cap. Other discounts and reductions. Find out more about Council Tax help for carers here Council Tax: Help for carers . Whether you own your own home, rent, are unemployed or working, you can apply for this Council Tax benefit. Council Tax Reduction. New to caring? Council Tax only applies to England, Scotland and Wales. When we calculate council tax we do not include people who live with and care for a person with severe disability and who qualify as a carer under our council tax rules. Note: It doesn’t matter whether or not Fred or Julie receives Carer’s Allowance. Each local authority will design its own scheme and decide who it supports with paying their Council Tax bill. In certain circumstances you can appeal against your council tax band, for example if major changes have been made to the property such as converting it into flats. a pensioner and have savings of up to £50,000, getting Housing Benefit for only part of your rate bill, just outside the income limit for receiving Housing Benefit. There is no requirement to backdate claims for working age adults, although this will vary depending on your local council. Many local councils in England do not offer the second adult rebate to working age people as part of their CTR schemes. If you feel that you have been overcharged Council Tax because you have not had a discount or exemption applied to your bill, you should first contact your local council. There are a number of ways that we may be able to reduce your Council Tax bill. If, after taking into account disregarded people, there are no residents who would ‘count’ for council tax a 50% discount is applied to the bill. James’s mother Jenny also lives in the house but does not spend 35 hours a week looking after Adam. If you're a registered foster carer for the council, you may be eligible for a 100% reduction in your Council Tax. Full Council Tax to pay. Select an item below to see further information on the different types of discounts and exemptions which you may be eligible for. A carer may not have to pay Council Tax if they: live in the same property as the person that they are caring for, provide care for at least 35 hours per week, are not providing care for a spouse or a child under the age 18. Empty and unfurnished for less than 2 years. To apply for CTR you would need to contact your local council benefits department. You’ll get a discount on your bill if you’re eligible. The bill takes into account an individual or a household’s circumstances. If you are in the lowest band already (Band A) you get a reduction of one sixth of the bill. Disabled Band Reduction Scheme You may be eligible for the scheme if you live in a larger property than you would need if … Together we're a supportive community and a movement for change. Council tax in England and Wales. Council Tax from 1st April 2019 to March 2020. She qualifies for a disability reduction because there is an additional bathroom in the home which is required by her disabled mother. You can ask for a discount to be backdated to the date the qualifying conditions were met. The professional carer. In Scotland your proposal will go to the local Assessor. Many councils will also have their own welfare rights department or directories of local organisations who can help. be receiving one of a number of specified benefits which include: children under the age of 18 or aged 18 if Child Benefit is still in payment, full-time students (If the property is occupied only by students then it is exempt from council tax altogether), long-term hospital patients or care home residents. A discount in Council Tax can apply where a person provides care or support to a person who is resident in the same property. Only people over the age of 18 are counted for Council Tax. You may be able to get a reduction in council tax under the disability reduction scheme if anyone resident in the property (adult or child) is ‘substantially and permanently disabled’. DALKEITH Note: In Scotland council tax on properties in Bands E, F, G and H is calculated differently. Council Tax Reductions are different to Council Tax Discounts (as described above). Council Tax Support. The person being cared for must: Require care for at least 35 hours a week; Be in receipt of certain disablement related state benefits (listed on the application) Not be the carer's spouse/partner or a child under 18 The same form is used to apply for both Housing Benefit and Rate Relief. empty properties, second homes. James can be disregarded as a carer and Adam can be disregarded as he is ‘severely mentally impaired’. Your time, skills and experience can help us make sure no one has to care alone. Fred also cares for Alice for 35 hours a week, during weekends and before and after his paid work. Julie cares for her for at least 35 hours a week. The carer is disregarded for council tax leaving one person (the cared for) to whom the single person discount is applied. Council Tax from 1 st April 2020. The following are examples of people who are ‘disregarded’ (treated as not living in the property) when it comes to calculating council tax. However caring affects you and your family, we're here with support, advice and understanding. In Scotland and Wales there is a national CTR scheme, although this will still be administered by local councils. They will then look at the bill and should either send you a new one if it is wrong, or if they think it is right they should contact you to explain why. Council tax support or reduction is a means tested way of getting help with your council tax and people on a low income should check to see if they would qualify. To be disregarded on the grounds of being ‘severely mentally impaired’, the person will need to meet all of the following conditions: Other people disregarded for the purposes of Council Tax include: Note: This list of discounts is not exhaustive. The only other person in the household is Fred and Julie’s 15 year old son, Bob. Councils are able to take legal action to recover debts but most will try to find other solutions first. Either could be entitled to a reduction in their Council Tax provided the following criteria are met. This new relief is an extension of the existing CTR and is aimed at households whose net income is below £16,750 for a single person and £25,000 for others.Entitlement is dependent on a number of factors. Council tax is a local form of taxation on domestic property and is collected by local councils (often referred to as local authorities). The benefit cap was rolled out in summer 2013 and means that certain households have an upper limit on the total amount they can be paid from benefits. Find out what financial and practical support is available in our essential guide. Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours a week and who meet additional criteria may be disregarded for Council Tax purposes. There are a number of ways in which people can get help with council tax, including through: Help for people on low incomes is provided in England through various local CTR schemes run by councils. The person being cared for must be entitled to one of the following state benefits: An attendance allowance You will get a reduction of your council tax bill if there are less than two adults in the household. You must be providing 35 hours or more care per week and the person you care for must be in receipt of: If two adults are living at home (regardless of their relationship), and one has a severe mental impairment, that person will be disregarded for council tax and the single person discount will be applied. If you are in the lowest band already (Band A) you get a reduction of one sixth of the bill. Full Council Tax to pay. Our Upfront guide will take you straight to the information you need to know. You can seek advice on Council Tax and other benefits you are entitled to from your local Citizens Advice Bureau or money advice agency. The full Council Tax bill is based on the assumption that two adults are living in a property. The non-students are responsible for paying the bill. We will never pass on your details and you can unsubscribe at any time. With council budgets under so much pressure, SMI council tax discounts offer an opportunity for local authorities to provide more support to thousands of carers by improving their incomes and ensuring they are aware of the discount. Together we’re a supportive community and movement for change. Each local authority now has their own scheme. If you're not sure whether you can claim Housing Benefit, or if you have tried to claim in the past and been unsuccessful, you should apply again. a disabled person needs to use a wheelchair indoors, there is a second bathroom/kitchen needed by the disabled person. Julie’s mother, Alice, who lives with the couple is suffering from dementia and is receiving the higher rate of Attendance Allowance and is considered to be ‘severely mentally impaired’. And if this combined income takes you over the threshold for paying tax (£12,500 per year in 2020/21). There are a number of exemptions available so that you aren't unfairly penalised though. In England and Wales, if you disagree with the council’s decision, or you don’t hear back within two months, you should appeal to the Independent Valuation Tribunal. Please note that a carer discount cannot be claimed for looking after a spouse or partner or by a parent for looking after a child under 18 years old. Our Carer Support Workers continue to provide support face-to-face over video calls or over the phone or contact you by email. You usually have to pay Council Tax if you are 18 or over and own or rent a home. Write to your council stating why you think the bill is wrong. 30/1 Dalhousie Road In some circumstances you could have your bill reduced. It could also help to provide supporting evidence from your GP/consultant. Full Council Tax to pay. But you’ll only have to pay tax if you have other sources of taxable income. Finally, if you are the sole adult in the house or a carer for a disabled child, then you may qualify for a Council Tax Discount of up to 50%. Each local authority will design its own scheme and decide who it supports with paying their Council Tax bill. Even if you were already getting a reduction in your council tax, you might be able to get more now that you’re getting Attendance Allowance. Bringing together our digital resources to help you provide comprehensive information and support for carers. You can request to spread your annual bill over 12 instalments instead of 10. A Council Tax bill is based on 2 adults living in a property. For advice on benefits and other financial matters, book an appointment at one of VOCAL’s free Money Matters surgeries. Carers. To apply for a discount you would need to contact the council tax department of your local council. Then, you'll need a doctor's diagnosis. You must also register the death. A Council Tax bill is normally based on 2 adults living in a property, however in some circumstances you could have your bill reduced. Alice can be disregarded as she is ‘severely mentally impaired. If you are not able to pay your Council Tax bill you should contact your council as soon as possible to let them know. Council Tax isn’t calculated on anyone aged under 18, full-time students, student nurses and some apprentices or trainees. Read more. Some households receive a discount on these charges including single person households (25%) and households with two or more adults who receive CTR (up to 25%). For more information contact the Carers UK Adviceline. You must apply for Rate Rebate if you need help paying your rates. Our Upfront guide will give you the tailored information you need right from the start. If you were eligible for the disability reduction scheme but did not apply, it is possible to backdate an application. If you are a care worker or a home carer, you may be able to pay less Council Tax.