Millions of individuals providing unpaid care to their friends and family members may have been incorrectly denied a council tax discount due to missing information on official websites, as revealed by an investigation. This error, impacting councils nationwide, is believed to have left millions unaware of crucial financial assistance they may be entitled to.
A probe by the Money Saving Expert (MSE) team led by Martin Lewis uncovered that councils in England and Wales may have discouraged millions of unpaid carers from claiming what they are potentially eligible for. Senior money writer Kit Sproson expressed that these website inaccuracies are likely to deter a significant portion of the up to five million unpaid carers from seeking assistance.
During the investigation, the MSE team discovered that many councils in England and Wales omitted key disability benefits that should qualify individuals for a reduction in council tax. At the time of the report, 69 councils, including seven in London, had incomplete eligibility criteria on their websites, while another 80 did not provide easily accessible information online about which benefits make individuals eligible for the discount.
Following the investigation, some authorities have rectified their online guidance to accurately reflect the eligibility rules since January 12. The Money Saving Expert website will track the progress of councils that are making changes and those yet to respond to the investigation’s findings.
The investigation highlighted that carers who are at risk of missing out are those providing regular assistance and supervision rather than continuous care. These carers are more likely to care for individuals receiving lower rates of qualifying benefits, which were frequently omitted from councils’ eligibility information.
Martin Lewis emphasized that unpaid carers should not solely rely on councils’ information regarding Carers’ Council Tax discounts. He urged carers who previously deemed themselves ineligible based on council websites to reassess their eligibility, pointing out that some councils may allow backdated discounts to the initial eligibility point.
The MSE team is sending letters to all implicated councils, urging them to promptly update their websites and internal policies. Additionally, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will be notified about this oversight in information provision.
Individuals serving as live-in carers may qualify for a council tax reduction. The investigation clarified that for this discount, live-in carers are not considered permanent residents for Council Tax purposes. If the carer is the sole individual in the household providing care, the household may qualify for a 25% single person discount.
To be eligible for the live-in Carer discount, applicants must offer at least 35 hours of unpaid care weekly to a non-spouse, non-partner, or non-child under 18 residing in their household. The care recipient must be receiving specific qualifying benefits.
The eligibility information pertains to residents in England, Wales, and Scotland. Residents in Northern Ireland can explore rate relief options specific to their region.