If a disabled person lives at a property, the person responsible for paying the bill may be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax.

To qualify for a reduction, the disabled person must live at the property and one of the following must apply:

• There must be a room, which is not a bathroom or a kitchen or lavatory which is mainly used by, and is required to meet the needs of the disabled person; or
• A bathroom or kitchen which is not the only bathroom or kitchen within the property and which is essential for meeting the needs of the disabled person; or
• Enough floor space inside the property for the use of a their wheelchair which is necessary for meeting the needs of the disabled person. wheelchairs for outdoor use only are excluded.

You will need to complete an application form, contact our helpline and one will be issued to you, alternatively you can download our disabled relief form (pdf) which you can complete and post into us.

You will need to get the form signed by your doctor or a health professional to support your application. We may also need to visit the property and we will telephone you to arrange a convenient time.

If the disabled person leaves the property on a permanent basis then the relief will be cancelled, you need to tell us.

If you qualify for a reduction the Council Tax Bill is worked out on a band less than that normally used. For example, if your property is in Band C you will be charged Council Tax for a Band B property. Previously, if a property was in Band A then no reduction could be granted as this was the lowest band. However, from 1st April 2000 the government has changed the rules to include properties in Band A. Now, if you qualify for disabled relief the reduction for a Band A property will be 1/9th of a Band D property.

We may review the reduction on a yearly basis,  we may send a letter to ask the person who pays the Council Tax Bill to confirm that the disabled person is still living at the property and that their circumstances are the same.

It is also important to remember that if the disabled person lives alone or there are 'disregarded' people living at the property then there may be a discount due as well.

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