If we become concerned about you or anyone else while using one of our services, we will act in line with our safeguarding policy and procedures. This may involve sharing this information with relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations.
Find out how to let us know if you're concerned about another member's safety.
Find out how to let us know if you're concerned about another member's safety.
Council tax reduction

Wibbles
Community member Posts: 1,460 Pioneering
Why does someone have to be classed as "severely MENTALLY impaired" to get a council tax exemption ?
Why not "severely PHYSICALLY impaired" ?
I am classed as disabled enough to receive enhanced mobility and enhanced care components of PIP but apparently NOT council tax exemption
‘Severely mentally impaired’ people
Those who meet both of the following criteria will not be counted:They have a certificate from a registered medical practitioner
confirming the condition.
They are entitled to one of the following benefits:
- the middle or the higher rate of the care component of Disability
Living Allowance (or Child Disability Payment in Scotland)
- the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment at
any rate (or Adult Disability Payment in Scotland)
- Attendance Allowance at any rate
- Constant Attendance Allowance or
- Employment and Support Allowance.
Comments
-
Hi @Wibbles, I took a look into this for you to try and find out what information I could.
I understand your frustration, you are not getting the support you need. You should be getting more support. I've put more information down below to clarify why there is a specific exemption for severe mental impairment, in the hope of clarifying the situation.
The definition for severely mentally impaired is quite a bit more strict than PIP, it requires a formal diagnosis that the person has "a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent". It's a definition that dates back to the Mental Health Act of 1983, when we didn't really separate the use of "mental health" such as impaired intelligence and social functioning from things like, depression for example. Whereas today the term "mental health" is far more associated with things like depression. I am making an assumption that this has caused some of the confusion so please do let me know if I am mistaken.
Severely impaired mental health covers things such as severe learning difficulties, severe dementia or Alzheimer's. Where the person cannot be expected to fully understand what is going on and so may run into issues when it comes to situations such as paying taxes.
This is why in 1992 the Local Government Finance Act made an exemption specifically for people who met this strict criteria.
Now, I have researched this myself but I am not a benefits expert. If someone has information that any of the above is incorrect please do let me know and I will correct it.
They/Them, however they are no wrong pronouns with me so whatever you feel most comfortable with
Online Community Specialist
Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us.
Want to give us feedback? Complete our feedback form now.
Opinions are my own, such as mashed potato being bad. -
Jimm_Scope said:Hi @Wibbles, I took a look into this for you to try and find out what information I could.
I understand your frustration, you are not getting the support you need. You should be getting more support. I've put more information down below to clarify why there is a specific exemption for severe mental impairment, in the hope of clarifying the situation.
The definition for severely mentally impaired is quite a bit more strict than PIP, it requires a formal diagnosis that the person has "a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent". It's a definition that dates back to the Mental Health Act of 1983, when we didn't really separate the use of "mental health" such as impaired intelligence and social functioning from things like, depression for example. Whereas today the term "mental health" is far more associated with things like depression. I am making an assumption that this has caused some of the confusion so please do let me know if I am mistaken.
Severely impaired mental health covers things such as severe learning difficulties, severe dementia or Alzheimer's. Where the person cannot be expected to fully understand what is going on and so may run into issues when it comes to situations such as paying taxes.
This is why in 1992 the Local Government Finance Act made an exemption specifically for people who met this strict criteria.
Now, I have researched this myself but I am not a benefits expert. If someone has information that any of the above is incorrect please do let me know and I will correct it.
Surely the reason for getting the discount is that the person is unable to leave the property on their own.?
Which is the sane for me -
There are limited criteria to get a band reduction which is geared more towards physical disability:
https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for-disabled-people
-
Kimmy87 said:There are limited criteria to get a band reduction which is geared more towards physical disability:
https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for-disabled-people
Brightness
Categories
- All Categories
- 12.8K Start here and say hello!
- 6.5K Coffee lounge
- 32 Games room
- 422 Cost of living
- 4.4K Disability rights and campaigning
- 1.9K Research and opportunities
- 209 Community updates
- 9.1K Talk about your situation
- 2.1K Children, parents, and families
- 1.5K Work and employment
- 784 Education
- 1.6K Housing and independent living
- 1.4K Aids, adaptations, and equipment
- 608 Dating, sex, and relationships
- 370 Exercise and accessible facilities
- 756 Transport and travel
- 30.3K Talk about money
- 4.2K Benefits and financial support
- 5.1K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 16.3K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 4.6K Universal Credit (UC)
- 6.2K Talk about your impairment
- 1.8K Cerebral palsy
- 854 Chronic pain and pain management
- 156 Physical and neurological impairments
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 1.2K Mental health and wellbeing
- 322 Sensory impairments
- 815 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
Complete our feedback form and tell us how we can make the community better.