council tax disabled band reduction

[mazz]

some info i have just had posted to me from my local authority

you may be entitled to a reduction in council tax if you, or someone who lives with you (adullt or child), is disabled and your home is adapated to include one of the following

1. a room (not kitchen, bathroom or toilet) used mainly by the disabled person, eg you may get a reduction if a room is used mainly for treatment purposes or to store medical equipment or wheelchairs * for parents whose children have autism see below*

2. or a second bathroom (containing a bath or shower) has been added for the disabled person to use

3. extra space inside your house to allow a wheelchair to move around

this is called COUNCIL TAX DISABLED BAND REDUCTION and if you qualify the amount of council tax you pay will be reduced so that it is the same as the next lowest band, if you live in the lowest band it will be reduced by 1/9th

also some people (adults) are not included when working out your council tax bill

an adult who is severly mentally impaired would not be counted for council tax purposes, this includes dementia and those with alzheimers disease


** autism bit**

pretty much all of the above is about physical disability and getting around but after a interesting conversation to my local council there is also consideration given to parents whose children have a non physical disability such as autism and a learning disability, this is what i was told

a room that has been added or is used mainly for the autistic child as their own space (not a bedroom) perhaps used for time out or a place to go when the person has sensory overload or a safe room for your child to calm down and relax can be considered when applying for this reduction

the main criteria is the room has to be used mainly to meet the specific needs of the child/young person

eg, a garage conversion or loft conversion as a chill out space when a child has sensory overload could be included, especially so if that is why you extended your property or converted a room such as a garage for this purpose

i have had a long conversation with the council tax benefits dept that deals with these reductions and an award has recently been made as a family converted the loft for their autistic child to go when he's over stressed

as i have recently converted my integral garage to provide the same space and for the very same reason for my oldest child to have somewhere to go it turns out i'm very eligible for this reduction

i would advise if anyone has similar circumstances to make a quick call to find out if you could be eligible :thumbs-up

[mainecoon lover]

We are on a lower band due to adaptions.

Another tip is if you use a lot more water due to a disability you can have your water rates capped. Contact your local water board for more info. We are capped due to DD needs.
If your family member is registered blind you can also get a reduction in your tv liecence.

[mazz]

we've asked about the water yrs ago but where told that if the disabled child/ person has no incontinence needs then the answer is no

i may look back into that, on average i do 5-6 loads of washing per day for two adults and two children, it's mainly the childrens clothes

[essexmick]

are you only able to apply if you have adaptions or if you are just registered as disabled?

[mainecoon lover]

we've asked about the water yrs ago but where told that if the disabled child/ person has no incontinence needs then the answer is no

i may look back into that, on average i do 5-6 loads of washing per day for two adults and two children, it's mainly the childrens clothes

My DB has croans (sw) and gets it.

[mainecoon lover]

are you only able to apply if you have adaptions or if you are just registered as disabled?

Yes i think so. We could not get it until the house was adapted.

[mazz]

hi Mick

the house would need to be adapted, extended or have a room that's specifically for the disabled person and used mainly to meet their specific needs (not a bedroom)

if in any doubt ring your local council and ask if you are eligible, they will post you out a form and someone will come and talk to you

[mazz]

My DB has croans (sw) and gets it.

for other peoples ref this is the water company info about eligibility for a reduced tariff for certain medical conditions

http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/assets/CS_forms/Are_you_eligible_diagram_14-9-07.pdf

you would need to check your own water board but i would think they would all be similar

[loadsapixiedust]

We got the council tax band reduction because we had to convert a bedroom to a shower room for DS. There was a form to complete and we had a visit from the council assessor.
In Scotland the water rates are included with council tax so there's no additional reduction for that.

[dkra2007]

We get a Council Tax rate band reduction for DS and I have only just heard on teh grapevine about the water rebate you can apply for. Why don't social workers tell you about these things. DS12 is incontinent and we are on a water meter and are therfore entitled to a rebate on our water bill. Have just got the form and in process of applying

[Saratoska]

our house is worth more since the extension so would I be shooting myself in the foot if we applied because technically we are paying for the band before we did all the work. should I keep my mouth shut ?

[loadsapixiedust]

Ali they won't reassess the house value, the council tax banding is based on a valuation done years ago. They will just charge you at the band below the one you currently pay if you qualify.

[Saratoska]

just downloaded a form from the council website ;) thanks for the info.

[essexmick]

Yes i think so. We could not get it until the house was adapted.

hi Mick

the house would need to be adapted, extended or have a room that's specifically for the disabled person and used mainly to meet their specific needs (not a bedroom)

if in any doubt ring your local council and ask if you are eligible, they will post you out a form and someone will come and talk to you

ok thanks both :)

wont bother

[melspice]

Think you also get a reduction when your child reaches 18, if you have adaptations or not.

xxMel

[spider]

We get the reduction for our conservatory, though we did have to have 3 Council officials round to inspect it before they made a decision!!!! :erm:

DS is Autistic firstly...................

When we had the conservatory first built, it was so that we could put all of Ben's computer/tv/video/dvd/books/comics/toys/PECS signs etc in as he can't have all of this in his bedroom - his bedroom is just that - to have all his stuff in there would be a complete distraction, in fact when the computer was in his room he'd wake up at all times of the night and go on it!!!!!!!

Anyhow, I hadn't known about the reduction business, it was a friend who came round and saw Ben's Multimedia Room (as we had begun calling it!!!!) and said that another friend of her's had a similar room and got a reduction for her council tax - but that was Sevenoaks council but was sure that Dartford would be the same probably.

Anyhow, applied but got rejected because there wasn't any adaptions made to the house - so I had to explain that whilst there are physical disabilities, there are mental disabilities which would apply to my DS.

Unfortunately, it was like talking to a brick wall, so with some help from my MP(who is a GP) and local councillor, some explanatory letters and leaflets from the National Autistic Society, I managed to get a meeting when Ben was at home and insitu!!!!

Mmmmm, after a few minutes of seeing him sitting in his little haven (and ours, we now have our TV back!!!! He was very possessive of it!!!!) and him telling them it was time for them to go, the decision was reversed!!!

If anyone ever wants helps, don't hesitate to ask!!!

[Saratoska]

applied for the tax reduction and we have got it :d: all thanks you guys :)

[lucykatie]

We got reduced a band about three years ago, mentioned it to my friend whose daughter also has CP, she spoke to social services who then went out to visit her, the social worker asked my friend how she had heard about it, my friend said she didn't seem to pleased :erm: that I had passed on the info to her. like it's some big secret, but that's how you seem to find out most things I feel, by being in touch with other parents in similar situations.
We also tried for Water rebate as on water meter, but they wouldn't cap it, and we use loads of water, costs a fortune each month, as DD is still in pull ups at night at 9 years, and therefore means lots of washing and bathing. They said it was because we didn't meet certain criteria :angry:

[melspice]

that I had passed on the info to her. like it's some big secret,


Hmmm, funny that isn't it? We all seem to be treated like we are doing something wrong for finding out what our kids are entitled to, and from the taxes we paid before we had to pack in work to look after our kids, to save the government money!! :angry: My MP has helped us recently to get Ben the respite care he needs in place when he turns 18 on Christmas Eve, even though they have known all about his case for over a year, and have done nothing at all. Going to get a claim in for council tax aswell. We could have claimed for the half of the house he occupies with his 'stuff', but, NOBODY TOLD ME!!!! Don't really have a problem with water, cos Ben just refuses to get in the bath! :d: But really,he still uses more than a 'normal' person would. Hey ho, that's my vent, for tonight! ;)

xxMel

[mazz]

i find this strange about it being secret as the lady that contacted me from the council was actively promoting the reduction and asked if i knew anyone else who may be eligible, i beleive they have govt targets to meet also, i put her in touch with the lady who prints the disability network newsletter which goes into every home to those on the towns disability register

i had "the visit" last friday and the lady seemed surpised there was no board games and such, before me she had visited a family who have a toddler with autsim who need the pecs symbols and games to learn, my child is a teen and more than used to the family routine and i told her so, she seemed to have preconceptions of how we should live and what we should have provided in the room for it to be eligible :angry:

i'm going to telephone the lady i spoke in depth with who invited me to reply about it as she told me that the visit was basically just to confirm the room exsisted and that i was more than eligible over the telephone and i'm not happy at all that the lady who visited had such preconceptions about an autistic childs needs

[mazz]

just half and hour after writing the above post a letter landed on the doormat and i've been awarded the reduction :thumbs-up

[sixpence]

Another interesting fact that the council dont tell you is they will backdate your council tax de-banding for 1 year (think it was 1 year anyway) but if you have had adaptions done longer or have been using a wheelchair around the house for longer than this period and you have proof of dates of adaptions or wheelchair delivery you can get it back dated to that date.

We have just got ours back dated to 1996(due to the fact my husband had his wheelchair delivered in 1996).Although you don't get a cheque you get a lump sum off your council tax.In our case we didn't have to pay the council tax for a year.

The welfare rights unit sorted our claim out for us .It might be worth checking with your local welfare rights office to see if you can claim. :thumbs-up

[daytona64]

So does all the water boards do a reduction ?

[mazz]

So does all the water boards do a reduction ?

i would think so but not 100% sure i would check out your water suppliers website :)

[daytona64]

severn trent water? will have to look thanks