Do Autism / ADHD count as "Severe Mental Impairments" so I can get my council tax reimbursed?

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Stellar
Stellar Online Community Member Posts: 321 Pioneering
edited July 7 in Benefits and income

See title.

Found out today that because I am formally diagnosed with both autism and ADHD, I may be eligible for zero council tax, meaning I paid hundreds of pounds to my council when I didn't have to.

I do not have any diagnosed mental illnesses (even though I do have cPTSD). Due to my need to leave the UK long-term, I have not sought out any diagnoses in case they jeopardise potential residency. this is why I previously ruled out applying for the exemption.

I no longer live at that address, so I'd need to claim a refund from my council.

Does anyone know? If you have a source, even better.

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  • onions77
    onions77 Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    I applied for this a few months ago and it involved going to the council getting the form

    Filling it in then taking it to the drs the drs took a couple of weeks to fill the form in and they sent it to the council themselves

    The council then took a week or two to give me exemption and it was backdated 6 months to when I moved into my tenancy

    So all took a bout a month

    I have schizophective disorder you could go and ask your Dr if your eligible for this

  • tugglz71
    tugglz71 Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener

    Most of the time you they won't backdate much. There are a lot of people with undiagnosed Autism and ADHD. The UK has major issues, 12 years ago diagnosis for adults in my area was non existent. When I managed to get my diagnosis aged 42 Dr's from my GP surgery asked me how I had managed to get the diagnosis. We now have social workers trained in autism awareness and who are actively assigned to autistic people but there is still far too much discrimination. I was ignored by police when I reported domestic rape, and told that being autistic made me a poor witness, I was asked if I had told anyone about it at the time but I didn't leave the house without my husband (abuser) so when could I have explained this. He would ask me about my CBT sessions and I'm not a good liar so couldn't have said something and then lied about it. So I can understand your reluctance to get a formal diagnosis. I do believe that getting my diagnosis helped me so much. I was abused as a child and suffered abuse in 3 of my major relationships. My family would promise support but bully me so I had always wondered why people thought I was the best target. But knowing my diagnosis I know why they saw me as the ideal target. My life is different now. Im not in any abusive relationships, I walked away from my toxic family and I've raised my children in safety for the last 11+ years. Think carefully about your diagnosis it may be that it answers so many questions and even gives insight to things you didn't realise were traits not everyone has. There are some bits you learn about your neurodiverse self that neurotypical people never experience. Not everything and is a negative. There are some amazing traits my neurotypical friends wish they had.

  • Stellar
    Stellar Online Community Member Posts: 321 Pioneering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1045230#Comment_1045230

    Thanks. Would they backdate up to three years? or does this depend on your council?

    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1045237#Comment_1045237

    You misread my post. I'm dxed with autism and ADHD, its my other neurodivergences i refuse to seek dxes for as i need to leave the UK for my mental health, and said dxes may put residency applications at risk (as some countries will auto-decline people with specific dxes regardless of circumstances). But thanks.

  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 388 Championing

    You would honestly need to talk to the Council's CT department, as it may well depend on their own policies.

    I did find this:

    https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/can-i-claim-welfare-benefits-if-i-m-living-with-a-mental-illness/council-tax-exemptions-and-support-to-pay/

    I don't know how accurate or up to date it is, but it does give some contingencies of what qualifies and doesn't, what the timescale is like, and so on. You also didn't mention if you claim PIP or another benefit, that apparently matters as well.

    At the end of the day, though, the only people who will really know will be your local CT department.

    In my area, there is definitely a specific form and I think it needs to be signed by a mental health or medical professional. But I don't know what might be the case in your area.

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