If someone in your household has a severe mental impairment, you may be entitled to a Council Tax discount. If you live alone, you may be entitled to an exemption.
Eligibility
To get this Council Tax exemption, you (or the person you are applying for) must suffer from a condition which is classed as a 'severe mental impairment.' This includes long-term conditions which affect your ability to work or live independently, for example, Alzheimer's or other types of dementia, and some forms of autism. You need a GP's certificate to prove this. Applicants must be aged over 18 and resident in the property.
You must also be entitled to one of these benefits (open each link to see the full list).
- Incapacity benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- An increase in the rate of Disablement Pension as constant attendance is needed
- Care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the higher or middle rate
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with a standard or enhanced Daily Living component
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement as an increase to Disablement Pension
- Unemployability Supplement, payable with War Disablement Pension
- Income Support disability premium awarded on the grounds of incapacity for work
- Jobseeker's Allowance if received by the partner of the severely mentally impaired person
- Disability Living Allowance, where 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
- Disability element of Working Tax Credit, where previously entitled to Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
- Unemployability Supplement payable with War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
Before you apply
To apply for this Council Tax exemption, you will need:
- to register for Council Tax in the Bath and North East Somerset area
- to have your Council Tax account number. This is a seven or nine digit number, and you can find it in the top left hand corner of your Council Tax bill. If you are unsure, please view this example bill.
- evidence that you are entitled to at least one of the above benefits
- a doctor's certificate of severe mental impairment. Please download this, print it and pass it to your GP for completion. You will need to scan or photograph it, once completed, and upload this when you apply.
Apply for a severe mental impairment exemption
Next steps
- When we receive your application, we will verify the information and issue a new Council Tax bill. You should receive this within 28 days.
- We will support you through the process of application. If you have any queries or concerns, please call us on 01225 477 777 or email us at counciltax@bathnes.gov.uk
- We will check every year that you are still entitled to the exemption. You may receive a letter, asking them to confirm this.
Your responsibilities
- After you have applied for the exemption, you must still pay the instalments on any Council Tax bill we have sent, until we issue a new bill.
- If you disagree with the amount of Council Tax we ask for after we have processed the exemption, you can use our online form to contact us.
- We will check every year that you are still eligible for the exemption. You may receive a letter, asking you to confirm this. You must respond promptly to any letters we send. We may cancel the exemption if you do not reply when we contact you.
- You must inform us immediately if the circumstances change (for example, you move house, or someone else moves into the property).
Cancelling a severe mental impairment exemption
If your circumstances change, we may need to reassess the amount of Council Tax which is payable. You must tell us immediately about any change. If you do not inform us, this might increase the bill.
Tell us about a change in circumstances
If the circumstances change in other ways, you or someone in your household may be eligible for a different Council Tax exemption. Find out about other benefits and additional support by following the links in the panel: More on Council Tax, Other benefits and Advice and Support.