council tax reduction for disabled people

[wooo]

Hi all, im quite new to this sight but find all the information you have given very helpful and supportive. I have just received good news !! that I qualify for PIP.

As I was looking on the citizens advice website regarding Benefits for disabled people I noticed I may qualify for a reduction on my council Tax bill, as I viewed the criteria it seems that you have to own a wheelchair or have a room adapted for your disability to qualify .

Does anyone else know if this is true or have I read it wrong?

If this criteria is true I find it discrimination to our disability.

having said that I was chased by a security guard when I parked in a disabled bay ( being a blue badge holder) saying I should not park there as I didn't have a limp !!

Thank you to all my fellow COPD suffers for being there.

[Toci]

If there is a room in your house that cannot be used for its intended purpose (i.e. a sitting room or bedroom used for appliances) then you may qualify for a council tax reduction. You may store spare oxygen cylinders for example. It is certainly worth checking out.

carersuk.org/help-and-advic...

[HuwieHex]

The qualifying conditions (stated on the Gov.uk) website) are:

"Disabled Band Reduction Scheme

You may be eligible for the scheme if you live in a larger property than you would need if you or another occupant weren’t disabled.

You’ll have to show that you’ve either:

##an extra bathroom, kitchen or other room that you need for the disabled person

##extra space inside the property for using a wheelchair

The property must be the main home of at least 1 disabled person. This can be an adult or a child - it doesn’t have to be the person responsible for paying the Council Tax. "

I applied two years ago and was visited by the Council Tax assessor from the local Council. She took some photographs and said that the matter would be decided by her Manager. She gave me the impression that there would be no problem and I got confirmation of this a week later.

I don't understand the comment "If this criteria is true I find it discrimination to our disability." Could you please explain what you mean by this.

[katieoxo60]

Good morning Wooo, had to laugh about not having a limp. You are correct about the councils criteria for disability, rebates on council tax do discriminate towards wheelchair users, however if you get certain levels of benefit you can have more income coming in and still get a rebate, if you live alone there is an automatic reduction in council tax of a quarter plus any other rebate for low income , age ,family, and disability. So if you have little savings and low income apply is my motto, even if you get PIP it wont effect your council tax rebate. House valuations are not effected unless a room is used for or adapted to meet your disability needs for council tax purpose. I have a stairlift but that does not count as I don't use a wheelchair, however it does count me as disabled in other departments including gadgets for the home or loans for adaptation.I was refused benefits once upon a time because I did not have a permanent limp, don't know how they knew that as they had not seen me or assessed me, thats why I laughed at the comment in your post. Good look with your pip claim and keep using that blue badge, I have one too but don't drive we pay for it and it is only a parking concession. I find it difficult to get out of the car in the normal parking spaces and they don't do wider spaces for less able., do they?

Enjoy your day.