Certain people are not counted when
looking at the number of adults resident in a property. For
example, if there were two adults resident, one of which was
described in one of the special groups set out below, they would
not be counted as living in the property. As such your bill would
be worked out as if only one adult lived there, and would therefore
be reduced by a quarter (25%); if both resident adults were
disregarded then your bill would be reduced by half (50%).
Examples of people who may be
ignored are as follows:-
Persons in
detention:
A person who is:
- on remand or in prison
- not imprisoned for not paying a fine or the Council Tax
Severely mentally impaired
persons:
A person who is:
- severely mentally impaired, i.e. he or she suffers, for
whatever reason, from severe impairment of intelligence and social
functioning which appears to be permanent (usually includes people
suffering from Alzheimer's disease and similar illnesses) and
- certified as severely mentally impaired by a registered medical
practitioner; and
- in receipt of one of a number of 'qualifying benefits'
Persons for whom Child
Benefit is payable:
A person who is:
- someone for whom another person receives Child Benefit.
School and college
leavers:
A person who is:
- under 20 and was on a course of full-time education or a
qualifying course which they finished/left after 30th April.
(This
discount only lasts up to the 20th birthday or 1 November of the
same year, whichever is the earliest)
Student
nurses:
A person who is:
- on a course leading to registration on any of parts 1 to 6, or
8 of the nursing Register and studying for their first inclusion on
that register.
(Nurses
already on the Register who are taking further courses will not
qualify.
Apprentices:
A
person who is:
- employed to learn a job and, as part of that learning,
undertaking training leading to a qualification recognised by the
National Council for Vocational Qualifications;
- not paid more than £195 p.w. (before tax) but expects to earn
substantially more when qualified.
Students:
A
person who is:
on a full-time course of education
at a prescribed educational establishment i.e. attending a
university or college course, which:
- lasts at least one academic year (or a calendar year if the
college does not have academic years)
- takes at least 24 weeks a year, some of which could be spent
abroad or in work experience, as long as it is part of the course
and the total period of work experience does not exceed the total
periods of normal study; i.e. involves at least 21 hours of study
per week during term-time (which does not have to be all taught -
some could be spent in private study)
or
- aged under 20 and on a qualifying course, i.e. one which -
lasts more than 3 months;- involves at least 12 hours per week of
study;- leads to any qualification up to A level, ONC or OND
standard (i.e. further education)
or
- a Student nurse in full-time education studying an academic
course
or
- a Foreign Language Assistant registered with the Central Bureau
of Educational Visits and Exchanges.
Foreign spouses of
students:
A person who is:
- the spouse or dependant of a student
- not a British Citizen
- prevented by the terms of his/her permission to be in the UK
either from taking paid employment or from claiming benefits.
Youth training
trainees:
A person who is:
- under 25
- receiving training in line with an individual training plan
under the Youth Training Scheme, such as TCT, Options, Future and
Next Step.
Patients in
hospital:
A person who is:
- a patient in a hospital which is his/her sole or main
residence.
(Those in hospital for a short time who have a home elsewhere will
not qualify.)
Carers:
There
are two classes of Carers for discount purposes:
Carer 1.
A
person who is:
- employed as a carer by an organisation such as Community
Service Volunteers, by a public body or by the person being cared
for, if introduced to that person by a charitable body. Living in
accommodation provided by/on behalf of the relevant body or
employer in order to provide care for at least 24 hours p.w. &
paid no more than £36 p.w.
- employed to provide care for at least 24 hours p.w. & paid
no more than £36 p.w.
Carer 2.
A
person who is:
- living with and caring for someone with a disability who is not
his/her spouse/partner or child under 18 but is in receipt of a
qualifying benefit
- providing care for at least 35 hours p.w. on average.
Patients in care homes,
nursing homes, mental nursing homes and hostels providing a high
level of care:
A person who is:
- Living in one of the above as his/her sole or main residence
and receiving care there.
Members of religious
communities:
A person who is:
- a member of a religious community, whose main work is prayer,
contemplation, the relief of suffering, education or any
combination of these
- dependent on the community for his/her material needs, having
no personal income, other than a pension from a former employer, or
capital.
Diplomats,
members of visiting forces, international
HQs and defence organisations:
A person who is:
- one of the above;
- his/her dependant who is also not a British citizen or not
normally resident in the U.K.
People staying in certain
hostels or night shelters:
A person who is:
- living in a dwelling such as a short-stay hostel or night
shelter which provides communal accommodation for people with no
fixed abode and no settled way of life.
Application forms:
If you would like an application form please contact a member of
the Local Taxation Team and they will be happy to assist you with
its completion.
Please note:
If you have been granted a discount
that you believe you are not entitled to, you are legally required
to inform the Council within 21 days. Failure to do so may result
in the issue of a £70.00 civil penalty.
Contact us:
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