Is it possible to get a reduction in council tax. I have High Rate PIP Mobility and Medium Care?

Joy32
Joy32 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
edited March 2022 in Benefits and income
Is it possible to get a reduction in council tax.  I have High Rate PIP Mobility and Medium Care?

Comments

  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hello @Joy32 and welcome to the community :) Thanks for posting your query.

    You can submit an application for Council Tax Reduction on Gov.uk. The guidance says:

    You could be eligible if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%.
    You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.
    What you get depends on:
    • where you live - each council runs its own scheme
    • your circumstances (eg income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
    • your household income - this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income
    • if your children live with you
    • if other adults live with you
    Citizens Advice explain what makes someone eligible, and go through the process step by step, so do have a look if that's helpful for you.

    If I can help any further please let me know, and keep us updated with how you get on.

    Alex
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    Getting PIP doesn’t entitle you to any discounts but could increase your entitlement to Council Tax Reduction depending on your circumstances. CTR is a means tested benefit and if you are working age the rules vary between local authorities.

    Do you claim any other benefits?
  • Alexander13
    Alexander13 Online Community Member Posts: 52 Connected
    High I don’t believe that council tax reductions are means tested. 

    I have been allowed to pay band c rather than band d. I had a letter from OT about my difficulties and sent pictures of my two bathrooms with adaptions for disability. 

    If my daughter wasn’t at home and it was me and wife. If she was my cater I would be entitled to 25% reduction as though I was in a single person household. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,185 Championing
    Alexander13 said:
    High I don’t believe that council tax reductions are means tested. 

    That's not correct. Council tax reduction is means tested.

    Alexander13 said:

    I have been allowed to pay band c rather than band d. I had a letter from OT about my difficulties and sent pictures of my two bathrooms with adaptions for disability. 

    If my daughter wasn’t at home and it was me and wife. If she was my cater I would be entitled to 25% reduction as though I was in a single person household. 
    That's different to CTR. The council tax band reduction which isn't means tested can be applied if either of these apply.
    • An extra bathroom or kitchen for the person who is disabled to use.
    • A room which is 'predominantly' used by the disabled person. For example, it could be a downstairs room in a two-storey house which the disabled person has to use as a bedroom. Or it could be a room that has been adapted specifically for the disabled person to use.
    • Sufficient floor space so that the disabled person can use a wheelchair in the home.
    The 25% deduction you mention also isn't means tested.


  • Alexander13
    Alexander13 Online Community Member Posts: 52 Connected
    Sorry what was wrong in the statement I made? What other CTR is there?
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    edited March 2022
    Alexander13 said: What other CTR is there?
    There are Council Tax discounts which are not means tested and depend on meeting qualifying conditions. They reduce the Council Tax liability. They are often referred to as reductions and these are obviously what you meant.

    Council Tax Reduction (CTR) (still sometimes called Council tax Support) is a means tested benefit that helps meet the cost of the Council Tax bill.
  • Alexander13
    Alexander13 Online Community Member Posts: 52 Connected
    thanks for clarifying. I assume the original question was asking about disability reduction due to PIP etc. 
  • Joy32
    Joy32 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Many thanks!  I am on the same level of PIP.  Yes!  the question was relating to can I get a Council Tax .
  • racyguy
    racyguy Online Community Member Posts: 560 Empowering
    Joy32 said:
    Many thanks!  I am on the same level of PIP.  Yes!  the question was relating to can I get a Council Tax .
    I would be over the moon with a CT reduction simply because I get PIP both elements at the highest range with my wife receiving the high rate of Attendance Allowance. Sadly your council tax is not affected by these benefits - DLA, PIP or Attendance Allowance. You still have to pay the full whack!
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,185 Championing
    woodbine said:
    racyguy said:
    Joy32 said:
    Many thanks!  I am on the same level of PIP.  Yes!  the question was relating to can I get a Council Tax .
    I would be over the moon with a CT reduction simply because I get PIP both elements at the highest range with my wife receiving the high rate of Attendance Allowance. Sadly your council tax is not affected by these benefits - DLA, PIP or Attendance Allowance. You still have to pay the full whack!
    Again not 100% correct, a low income can qualify people for CTR.

    Indeed but as with all benefits, you need to apply for them. They aren't just given to you on a plate but i know you know that.
  • racyguy
    racyguy Online Community Member Posts: 560 Empowering
    woodbine said:

    Again not 100% correct, a low income can qualify people for CTR.
    I never mentioned anything about having a low income. The original post asked if having PIP would reduce their CT liability -so my answer to that question was 100% correct! 
  • racyguy
    racyguy Online Community Member Posts: 560 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    .



    Indeed but as with all benefits, you need to apply for them. They aren't just given to you on a plate but i know you know that.
    Of course I know that. It's the applying for as well as the maintaining of those benefits that causes the problems.
    In times gone by the DWP/Pension Service/Local Authority had visiting teams go out to people to helpmake claims as well as giving advice and helping them maintain those benefits. Alas, they no longer exist -you are expected to understand the laws relating to those benefits as well as being proficient in the use of a computer. Most applications are now done on that way. 
  • Alexander13
    Alexander13 Online Community Member Posts: 52 Connected
    Hi all here is a link that may help. It’s not just about PIP it’s about needing specific rooms of the home for disability. 


    Also if there are only 2 of you at home and one is the cater for another then I believe you can get a 25% reduction as though you were a single person in house. 


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,185 Championing
    Alexander13 said:
    Hi all here is a link that may help. It’s not just about PIP it’s about needing specific rooms of the home for disability. 


    Also if there are only 2 of you at home and one is the cater for another then I believe you can get a 25% reduction as though you were a single person in house. 



    Yes but that's totally different to Council tax reduction.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    @racyguy can you not find an advocate to assist you in these claims or help you with other tasks 

    I'm not sure how you get them but hopefully other members may know or cab or welfare rights 
  • Alexander13
    Alexander13 Online Community Member Posts: 52 Connected
    I do know that this reduction is different to the CTR quoted and keep raising BUT the original question from Joy32 was can you get a reduction in council tax if you have PIP? It wasn’t about low income and this was confirmed by Joy32 later in the thread. 

    Alex answered with the low
    income option CTR but it’s the disability one that Joy32 asked about.

    cheers




  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    Alexander13 said:
    Also if there are only 2 of you at home and one is the cater for another then I believe you can get a 25% reduction as though you were a single person in house. 
    That depends on the relationship of the two people, for example somebody caring for their spouse cannot be disregarded.

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