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Being an unpaid, live-in carer is one of the things that can mean you are ‘disregarded’ when calculating your household’s council tax bill (or rates in Northern Ireland).
If the person you care for could be considered to have a ‘severe mental impairment’, due to a condition that affects their mental capacity such as dementia or a learning disability, they may be eligible for Severe Mental Impairment Council Tax Discount.
These regulations are outlined in the Social Security and Benefits Act 1992.
How much is the carer council tax discount?
How much the discount is depends on who you live with. You must live with the person you care for in order to be eligible, but who else lives at that address affects how much of a discount you get.
If taxpayers also live at the address, you will get a smaller discount than if it’s just you and the person you care for, or you, them and a child.
Who is eligible for the carer council tax discount?
Below are the eligibility criteria that the carer and person being cared for must meet in order to qualify for a council tax discount.
It doesn’t matter if the carer is employed or not, or if they receive Carer’s Allowance or not.
To be eligible, you must:
- Provide care for the person for at least 35 hours a week.
- Live with the person you care for
- If you have your own home but are currently living with the person you care for due to their care needs, your home may be exempt from council tax, provided nobody else liable to pay council tax lives there.
Your relationship to the person you care for:
- You must not be their partner, spouse or civil partner.
- If the person is under 18, you must not be their parent.
Additionally, the person you care for must:
- Get one of the following benefits:
| Benefit | Rate |
| Attendance Allowance | Any rate |
| Personal Independence Payment | Daily Living Component at any rate |
| Disability Living Allowance | Care component at middle or higher rate (England and Wales)Care component at higher rate (Scotland) |
| Constant Attendance Allowance | An increase in rate |
| Armed Forces Independence Payment | n/a |
| Disablement pension | An increase in rate |
How can I apply for a carer council tax discount?
To apply for carer council tax discount, contact your local council.
Some council websites have an application form that you can download; for some you will need to give them a ring.
Do care workers get any discount on council tax or rates?
Care workers who are employed by the local authority or a charity (or by the person you care for but were introduced through the local authority or charity) can also be eligible for a council tax discount or disregard.
You must do at least 24 hours per week of care work, earn no more than £44 a week for the work and live at a residence provided by your employer (not necessarily the same address as the person you care for).
If you think you may qualify, speak to your local authority.
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