Overview

• The Disabled Band Reduction Scheme allows households with a substantially and permanently disabled member to lower their council tax band by one level or receive a one-ninth cut if already in Band A.
• Applicants must obtain medical certification from a GP or occupational therapist and prove home adaptations such as an extra room for equipment, a purpose-built bathroom, or wheelchair access.
• Local authorities conduct property inspections to verify that homes meet the scheme’s criteria before confirming any reduction.
• Councils report that response times have stretched as application volumes surge, leading to longer-than-usual decision periods.
• The government is consulting on renaming and simplifying the separate Severe Mental Impairment exemption to make it more accessible and streamline applications.