Disablement Reduction

The disabled band reduction scheme aims to ensure that disabled people do not pay more council tax because they live in a larger property than they would have needed if they were not disabled.

Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a reduction. In summary, the requirements for a reduction are that the property must be the main residence of at least one disabled person and it must have at least one of the following features:

A room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) used by, and required to meet the needs of, the disabled person
An additional bathroom or kitchen for use by the disabled person
Extra space inside the property to allow for the use of a wheelchair - wheelchairs for outdoor use only are excluded.

The room or the wheelchair must also be essential or of major importance to the disabled person's wellbeing, due to the nature and extent of their disability.

'Disabled person' in this context means a person who is substantially and permanently disabled. The disabled person can be either an adult or a child and does not have to be respnsible for paying the council tax bill.

An extra room does not need to have been specially built, but your home will not qualify for a reduction unless the 'essential or of major importance' test above is met. Simply rearranging the rooms - for example, having a bedroom on the ground floor rather than the first floor - is unlikely to make your home eligible for a reduction.

How much is the reduction?

The disablement reduction is equivalent to paying one band lower. For example, if your property is in Band D, we will charge you as if it were in Band C. If your property is already in the lowest band, Band A, we will reduce your bill by one sixth.

If you think you may be entitled to a reduction, print out and complete an application form (141KB - 06 February 2012 - PDF Help)