Council Tax Reduction - People with Severe Mental

Hi Everyone

Martin Lewis was on TV and mentioned that in certain circumstances people with a Severe Mental Impairment can apply to their local council and complete a form which also has a section for your doctor to complete which is a Doctors Certificate confirming the applicant has "Severe Mental Impairment", you also have to be in receipt of a benefit ESA, DLA or PIP etc and you may be entitled to a reduction in council tax for the person with the impairment, and it is possible it can be backdated (Doc's certificate asks from "when" they have been ill) i rang our local authority council tax department as advised on their form to ask them to clarify the criteria of Severe Mental Impairment, i suffer with Clinical Depression, Anxiety, Panic attacks, etc etc. they were not much help at all!!!, they said, just fill in the form (which is not a long form), ask your doctor to complete their section, send in proof of benefits and any supporting letters from medical professionals confirming your mental condition and we will asses???!!, i said surely there must be some guidance notes you can refer to and advise me please? i asked, is it that you cannot leave the house, need supervising to be kept safe, help with taking medication etc etc, response, "don't know"!!!! I wonder does anyone have any knowledge of this or applied, there would be no problem with doctors certificate and have lots of support/confirmation letters of my mental diagnosis and how it effects me but don't fancy just sending it in, as pretty detailed without finding out a bit more about it, council staff as helpful as DWP staff!!!!!

Thanks in advance for any help

Best wishes

I know someone who receives a 25% Council Tax discount because they have a "Severe Mental Impairment" which is a learning disability not a 'Mental Health' condition. I believe the criteria was that only 3 people were living in the house, including the person with a disability