For Council Tax purposes, a disabled person is someone who is SUBSTANTIALLY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED, whether by illness, injury, congenital deformity or otherwise. A blind person may qualify as long as he/she fulfils the criteria outlined below.

The reduction takes the form of a rebanding of the dwelling to ONE band below that shown in the valuation list. If your property is in band A, the reduction equates to one-ninth of the band D charge.

Yes. The property in which the disabled person lives must contain ONE or MORE of the following features which is ESSENTIAL or of MAJOR IMPORTANCE to the well-being of the disabled person:

(a) a room other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet, which is predominantly used for the treatment or care of the disabled person because of the nature and extent of their disability, or
(b) an additional bathroom or kitchen which is required for meeting the needs of the disabled person, or (c) sufficient floor space to permit the use of a wheelchair, needed indoors by the disabled person.

When considering whether a reduction should apply, the Council will have to decide whether the person with the disability would find it impossible or extremely difficult to live in the dwelling, or his/her health would suffer, or the disability would become more severe, if the room or extra feature were not available in the dwelling.

It will help to speed the Council's decision if the disabled person is able to enclose a certificate or note from some suitably qualified person, such as a person giving treatment or a social worker, which states that because of the person's disability it is considered that the room or extra feature in the applicant's home, upon which reduction is claimed, is necessary. If, for any reason you are unable to obtain such certificate or note easily please do not delay your application. THE COUNCIL WILL STILL BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER IT IN ANY CASE. However, the Council may subsequently need to ask for evidence in support of you application.

No. Providing the disabled person lives in the property and it contains one or more of the above features, then a reduction may be given whatever the age of the disabled person.

The application must be made by a person who is liable to pay Council Tax. This may or may not be the disabled person.