People who are severely mentally impaired

People in your household are not counted for council tax if:

• they have a severe mental impairment of intelligence and social functioning. This is understood to be permanent

The person must also have made a valid claim for one or more of the following state benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• the care component of a Disability Living Allowance. This must be payable at the middle or highest rate
• an increase in the rate of Disablement Pension, where constant attendance is needed
• disability element of Working Tax Credit
• Unemployability Supplement
• Constant Attendance under an industrial injuries or war pension scheme
• Unemployability Allowance under a industrial injuries or war pension scheme
• Income Support where the applicable amount includes a disability premium
• Incapacity Benefit
• the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
• Employment Support Allowance (Income Related or Contributory)
• Armed Forces independence payment
• Universal Credit. This needs to include an amount due to limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity

To get a discount:

• we must not count the person severely mentally impaired for council tax, and
• there are less than two adults in the property that are counted for council tax

How to apply

1. log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)
2. click the 'council tax and benefits' tile
3. select 'continue' on the 'view other services' page
4. select 'council tax' on the 'your services' page
5. on your account summary page, find the list of quick links

• if you're using a computer or laptop these will be on the right-hand side of the screen
• if you're using a mobile device, click 'quick links'

6. in the list of quick links find 'apply for or cancel a disregard'
7. fill in the form. You'll need to:

• tell us the name of the person in the household who is severely mentally impaired
• tell us the date they moved in with you or the date they became severely mentally impaired
• upload a photo of a letter from the person's consultant or GP that confirms their diagnosis

or

• in the free text box of the form, tell us the name and contact details of the person's consultant or GP. We can contact them to confirm the diagnosis

You can apply for an exemption from paying council tax if all the members of the household are severely mentally impaired.

For example, if a property is set up so that a group of severely mentally impaired adults can live independently. They must be the only people living in the property

How to apply

1. log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)
2. click the 'council tax and benefits' tile
3. select 'continue' on the 'view other services' page
4. select 'council tax' on the 'your services' page
5. on your account summary page, find the list of quick links

• if you're using a computer or laptop these will be on the right-hand side of the screen
• if you're using a mobile device, click 'quick links'

6. in the list of quick links find 'apply for or cancel an exemption'
7. fill in the form. You'll need to:

• tell us the name of the person(s) in the household who are severely mentally impaired
• tell us the date they moved in
• upload a photo of a letter from the person's consultant or GP for each member of the household that confirms their diagnosis

or

• in the free text box of the form, tell us the name and contact details of the person's consultant or GP. We can contact them to confirm the diagnosis

If someone:

• moves into your household who is counted for council tax, or
• moves out of your household who wasn't counted for council tax

you may no longer qualify for the discount or exemption.

Tell us about the change

You can tell us about a change online through your MyGuildford account. 

You'll need to:

1. log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)
2. click the 'council tax and benefits' tile
3. select 'continue' on the 'view other services' page
4. select 'council tax' on the 'your services' page
5. on your account summary page, find the list of quick links

• if you're using a computer or laptop these will be on the right-hand side of the screen
• if you're using a mobile device, click 'quick links'

6. to tell us about:

• a change to a person who is severely mentally impaired find 'apply for or cancel a disregard' in the list of quick links
• a change to a household where all residents are severely mentally impaired find 'apply for or cancel an exemption' in the list of 'quick links'

7. follow the steps on the form.

We will contact you if we need any further information.

If you are entitled to a discount or exemption, we will send you a new bill.