Apply for Council Tax: severe mental impairment discount or exemption

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. 

• Attendance Allowance
• Standard or enhanced rate of the Daily Living component of Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
• An increase in the rate of disablement pension for constant attendance.
• A disability element of Working Tax Credit
• An unemployability supplement
• High or middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Constant Attendance Allowance payable under the Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes
• An unemployability allowance under the Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes
• Income Support which includes a disability premium because of incapacity for work
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance

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.

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.

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.