Council Tax reduction for people with a severe cognitive disorder

For Council Tax purposes, a person is considered to have a severe cognitive disorder if they have a permanent severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning.

They must have a certificate from a registered medical practitioner giving the date when they became impaired. They will also need to be entitled to (or were when they reached pensionable age) one of the following:

• incapacity benefit
• employment and support allowance
• attendance allowance
• severe disablement allowance
• the care component of disability living allowance (middle or higher rate)
• increased disablement pension because constant attendance is required
• constant attendance allowance
• the disability element of working tax credit
• unemployability supplement or allowance
• income support where the applicable amount includes a disability premium
• the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment

A full reduction is given when a home is only lived in by one or more people who are severely mentally impaired. An application needs to be made for each person living in the property.

If all the adults living in a property have a severe cognitive disorder apart from one person, a 25% discount can be given.

We need evidence the applicant meets the criteria for a reduction. Evidence can be scanned or photographed and uploaded.

To apply for a reduction you’ll need to print the application form and complete and sign part one. You’ll need to ask the doctor of the person with a severe cognitive disorder to complete and sign part two.

You should send us the completed form along with any evidence using our evidence upload form.