Overview
- Reporting on Thursday clarifies that people do not need to be on disability benefits to qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme.
- The scheme cuts a property’s council tax to the next lowest band or gives a 17% discount for Band A homes when extra rooms, an adapted bathroom or internal wheelchair space are needed for a disabled occupant.
- Households can save hundreds of pounds a year in some areas, with journalistic examples showing a Band E bill falling to Band D as more than a £300 annual saving.
- Eligibility checks and applications are handled by local billing authorities and can be started via Gov.uk, but final decisions and exact savings depend on local band valuations and council rates.
- Separate rules for people classed as severely mentally impaired can further reduce or remove liability in narrow household circumstances, and a list of 'disregarded' household members affects how discounts are calculated.