Council tax discounts - person with significant cognitive impairment

Anyone who is medically certified as having a significant cognitive impairment may be eligible for a Council Tax exemption or discount. A person is subject to a SCI if they have a severe and permanent mental condition or neurological change that impacts on the brain’s ability to function and has a significant impact on that individual’s daily life. 

Conditions that can lead to significant cognitive impairment include:

• Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Severe learning difficulties, or
• A stroke

Many other conditions may apply.

To be eligible, the person must be diagnosed by a doctor and be entitled to a qualifying benefit.

How much discount can you get?

Your full council tax bill is based on at least two adults (people over 18) living in a property.

People certified as having a significant cognitive impairment do not count towards the number of adults considered to be living in a property.

This means if 2 adults live in a property and 1 of them is a person with a significant cognitive impairment, the bill will be worked out as if only 1 adult lives there. This would reduce the bill by 25%.

If the only person or all persons living in the property have a significant cognitive impairment, they will be fully exempt from council tax.

Documents needed to apply

Before applying for a person with a significant cognitive impairment discount, you will need the following documents:

• a signed medical certificate from a qualified medial professional confirming the following:
  • Medical practitioner's full name
  • Medical practitioner's full address
  • Confirmation that the medical practitioner assesses in their opinion, the patient named in the application has a severe and permanent mental condition or neurological change that impacts on the brain’s ability to function and has a significant impact on that individual’s daily life
  • The date the situation has applied from.
• proof that the person named is in receipt of at least one of the qualifying benefits listed below, or have been eligible for a qualifying benefit if they are of pension age:
  • Attendance allowance
  • Severe disablement allowance
  • The middle or higher rate of the care component of disability living allowance
  • An increase in the rate of disablement pension
  • Unemployability allowance
  • Working tax credit that includes disability element
  • Armed forces independence payment
  • Constant attendance allowance
  • Unemployability allowance
  • Daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
  • Universal credit which includes an amount for limited capability for work
  • Income Support which includes a disability premium

Apply for a council tax discount - persons with a significant cognitive impairment

Please note, if you are eligible for a council tax discount or exemption, you will be asked to complete a review form every year. If you do not complete the review form, you will have to pay your council tax in full.

If your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible for a reduction, please let us know as soon as possible. If you don’t, you may receive a penalty charge. Email revenues@torfaen.gov.uk