If you meet any of the criteria listed below you will not be counted for Council Tax purposes. This means the bill for your household may be reduced.
You will not be counted if you live with and care for a person who is receiving one of certain allowances or disablement pensions. You must be providing care for at least 35 hours a week on average. You will be counted if you are caring for your husband, wife or civil partner (or partner you live with as husband, wife or civil partner), or your child under 18 years old.
If you have been in the care of Wirral Council (for instance you lived in a care home or were fostered) and are leaving care, you may be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax until you reach the age of 25. The amount of reduction you're entitled to may be up to 100% depending on the number of people who live with you.
The reduction will apply from 1st April 2018 or whenever you became liable to pay Council Tax if after this date.
People who are severely mentally impaired are not counted. For Council Tax purposes, a person is regarded as severely mentally impaired if he or she has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning, however caused, which appears to be permanent. This may include people with Alzheimer’s, Dementia or similar illnesses.
In order not to be counted, a person will need a certificate from his or her doctor to say that he or she is severely mentally impaired. The person must also be entitled to one of a number of benefits including certain disability benefits, unemployment allowances or attendance allowances.
You will also not be counted if you are at least 18 years old and someone is receiving child benefit for you.
If you are under 20 and left school after 30 April, you will not be counted until 1 November of the same year. (You may continue to get a discount as a student if you go on to further education).
You will not be counted if you are an apprentice employed to learn a job, and, as part of that learning, are undertaking training leading to a qualification recognized by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. You must be paid no more than £195 per week (before tax).
You will not be counted if you are under 25 and are receiving training which is funded by The Learning and Skills Council for England, in line with an individual training plan under the Youth Training Scheme, such as “programme led apprenticeships” or E2E (entry to employment).
You will not be counted if you are a patient in a hospital, which is your only or main home. If you are in hospital for a short time and you have a home elsewhere, you will carry on paying Council Tax at your home.
You will not be counted if you live, and are receiving care, in one of these homes or hostels, as long as it’s your only or main home.
A person whose main or only residence is in a property such as a short stay hostel or night shelter providing communal accommodation for people who have ‘no fixed abode’ and ‘no settled way of life’ is not counted. These may include hostels run by the Salvation Army or Church Army.
Prisoners who are on remand or in prison are not counted. However, people who are imprisoned for not paying a fine or their Council Tax are counted.
You will not be counted if you are a member of a religious community, provided that you depend on the community for your material needs and have no personal income or capital, for example monks and nuns.
Only members of religious communities whose main work is prayer, contemplation, the relief of suffering, education or any combinations of these are not counted.
This applies to any person who has diplomatic privileges and immunities.
If you think this relates to you, please contact us for further information.