I wiped out a £4,000 tax bill with a little-known benefit thanks to Martin Lewis
A MARTIN Lewis fan has revealed how the expert's handy tip helped him get rid of a £4,000 council tax bill.
On the latest Martin Lewis Money Show, a viewer named John shared how he paid his mother's bill and she won't have to pay it again.
John's wife had been watching and listening to the special episode of Martin's Bill Buster last week when he revealed that people with severe intellectual disabilities (SMI) can get a discount on their council tax payments.
The municipal tax discount for 'seriously mentally disabled people' (SMI) amounts to a minimum of 25% discount on a household's municipal tax bill.
A person is considered severely mentally retarded if he has a severe impairment in his intelligence and social functioning that appears to be permanent.
These may include people suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke and similar diseases.
Due to the sheer number of illnesses or disabilities that could qualify, hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be missing out on SMI.
An SMI discount can amount to, in some cases, clearing the entire account.
And that's what happened to John's mother.
On
He then thanked Martin for the advice.
According to the consumer champion, SMI discounts are “the discount about which not enough is known.”
He also urged households to check their eligibility online, but stressed that discounts may vary from council to council.
In addition, the condition must have been diagnosed by a doctor.
He said: 'But municipalities don't always know about it, municipal staff.
“So you need to know something about it.”
When it comes to SMI discounts, the size depends on who you live with.
Council tax is discounted based on the number of eligible adults living in a home.
Having SMI means you don't count as a qualifying adult – similar to full-time students and students under 18.
If you have SMI, the following applies to you, depending on your living situation:
- SMI living alone – house receives 100% municipal tax discount
- SMI lives with an adult caregiver – 50% discount on council tax
- SMI living with one eligible adult – discount for singles 25% discount
- SMI lives with two or more qualifying adults – no discount
It is important to note that if there are also young people under the age of 18, full-time students or others with SMI in the home, this does not change the situation.
That's because they don't count towards council tax either – so a house where someone with an SMI lives and is under 18 still gets the 100% discount.
Other discounts on municipal tax
If you don't qualify for the SMI discount, you can get similar discounts instead.
If you live alone, you can get a 25% discount on your council tax bill.
The same applies if one adult and one student live together in a home, or if one adult and one person with a severe intellectual disability live in the home.
You may be entitled to a larger discount, up to 50%, if you live with someone who does not have to pay municipal tax, such as an informal caregiver or someone with a severe intellectual disability.
And if you live in an all-student household, you can get a 100% discount.
A complete overview of the circumstances that exempt you from paying municipal tax can be found here Citizens advice.
Pensioners may also be eligible for a council tax discount.
If you receive the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit, you can get a 100% discount.
If not, you can still get help if you are on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone is also entitled to a 25% discount.
If you have a low income or receive benefits, you may be eligible for a municipal tax allowance.
Your eligibility depends on where you live.
And if you find yourself struggling to pay your bill, you may also be able to get a deferment or talk to your local council about setting up a payment plan to manage costs.
But one thing to remember is that if you are struggling, you should contact your local council as soon as possible.
How to request a discount
You can request a discount via Government website.
You should have your citizen service number, bank statements, a recent pay slip or letter from the Employment Office and a passport or driver's license at hand.
If there are other adults in the household, you may need the same information for them as well.
You can check which tax bracket your home falls in by entering your zip code government website.
Bill in which municipality you live to find out how much your board changes for each tire as it varies.
If you think you are paying too much council tax, you may be able to have your house foreclosed again.
To do this, you need to check which tire you have neighbors come in and calculate how much your property was worth in 1991, as this is when council tax bands were set.
MoneySavingExpert has one free calculation tool to help you with this.
Be warned though: applications are not always successful and you may even be moved to a HIGHER band and pay more.
A clever mum revealed how she gave £600 back to her council tax.
In the coming months, many households will see an increase in their council tax bills. We've put together a list of increases with some tips on how to keep your costs down.
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.
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