The Council Tax charge is based on the number of people living in a dwelling. If you are 'disregarded' it means that we do not count you when we work out the number of people living there.
If you provide care for someone who lives with you, you maybe disregarded for Council Tax purposes.
When counting the number of people living in a dwelling if there is just one person living there a 25% discount may be granted. If all the residents at a dwelling are 'disregarded' a 50% discount may be granted.
There are 2 types of carer (defined by Council Tax legislation), the professional carer and the unpaid carer or relative.
Either could be entitled to a Council Tax discount provided the following criteria are met.
Unpaid carer or relative
- you live in the same home as the person you provide care for
- you must be providing care for at least 35 hours a week on average
- the person you care for must not be your spouse, partner or your child aged under 18.
The person the carer looks after must be entitled to at least one of the qualifying benefits:
- higher rate of attendance allowance
- lower rate of attendance allowance
- higher rate care component of disability living allowance
- middle rate care component of disability living allowance
- an increase in constant attendance allowance under the industrial injuries or war pension scheme
- highest rate of constant attendance allowance payable on top of full rate disablement benefit paid for an industry injury
- the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
- armed forces independence payment .
The professional or paid carer
To qualify for a discount as a professional or paid care worker, you need to meet the following conditions:
- you are employed to provide support or care to a person, and were introduced to him or her by a charity or local authority
- you earn no more than £44 per week
- you work for at least 24 hours per week
- you live where the care is given or in premises which have been provided for the better performance of the work.