Bromley Council Tax Disability Reductions: SMI, PIP, and Disabled Band Reduction

Disability Discounts Separate From CTS

Council Tax Support is a means-tested reduction based on income. But disability-related council tax discounts are separate — they're non-means-tested and apply regardless of your financial circumstances. The two work together: disability discounts reduce your base bill first, then CTS covers up to 50% of what's left.

Claiming every applicable disability discount before or alongside your CTS application is essential. Each one lowers the figure the 50% cap is calculated against.

Severe Mental Impairment (SMI)

The SMI exemption is the most valuable disability-related council tax reduction. A person is classified as severely mentally impaired if they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) that appears to be permanent.

Two conditions must be met:

1. A doctor's certificate confirming severe mental impairment
2. The person receives (or is entitled to receive) a qualifying benefit: PIP daily living, DLA middle/higher rate care, Attendance Allowance, ESA support component, Incapacity Benefit, or Severe Disablement Allowance

The discount depends on who lives in the property:

• Sole occupant with SMI: 100% exemption — the entire council tax bill is eliminated. No CTS needed.
• Two adults, one with SMI: The SMI person is "disregarded" for council tax adult-count purposes, making the other adult the only counted adult. This triggers the 25% Single Person Discount.
• Multiple adults with SMI: Each SMI person is disregarded. If all adults are SMI-certified, the property is exempt.

The SMI exemption is widely under-claimed. If someone in your household has dementia, severe learning disabilities, or a brain injury affecting daily functioning, check whether they qualify.

Disabled Band Reduction

If your home has been adapted with features essential for a disabled resident, you can apply for a Disabled Band Reduction. The council calculates your bill as if the property were in the band below its actual band (Band D becomes Band C, Band B becomes Band A). Properties in Band A receive a one-sixth reduction.

Qualifying adaptations include:

• An additional bathroom or kitchen
• Sufficient floor space for wheelchair use
• A room predominantly used by the disabled person (not a bedroom or bathroom)

The room must be essential to the disabled person's wellbeing and not just a general household improvement. Apply to Bromley Council's revenues department with evidence of the adaptation and the medical need.

This reduction stacks with CTS. A Band D property assessed as Band C has a lower base charge, and then CTS covers up to 50% of that reduced figure.

PIP, DLA, and Attendance Allowance in the Means Test

Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, and Attendance Allowance are fully excluded from the CTS income assessment. Liberata doesn't count them when calculating your means-tested entitlement. Carer's Allowance is also fully disregarded.

This means a household receiving PIP alongside a low wage could qualify for close to the maximum 50% CTS, because the PIP is invisible to the means test.

Disabled claimants and carers also benefit from a £20 weekly earnings disregard (compared to £5 for a single claimant), which further reduces the income counted in the assessment.

Non-Dependant Deduction Waiver

If you or your partner receives the PIP daily living component, DLA care component (middle or higher rate), Attendance Allowance, or is registered as severely sight-impaired, non-dependant deductions are waived entirely.

This is significant. Non-dependant deductions — the fixed amounts subtracted from your CTS award because an adult child or relative lives with you — can substantially reduce your entitlement. The disability waiver eliminates them.

Carer Discount

If someone in your household provides care for at least 35 hours per week, lives with the person receiving care, and is not that person's spouse or partner (or parent if the person receiving care is under 18), the carer may be disregarded for council tax adult-count purposes. The person receiving care must also receive a qualifying disability benefit. If this makes you the only "counted" adult in the property, you may qualify for the 25% Single Person Discount. Bromley's carer discount guidance lists the qualifying benefits.

The carer doesn't need to be receiving Carer's Allowance for this disregard — they just need to meet the 35-hour care threshold.

For a full breakdown of how disability reductions interact with CTS and worked examples for different household types, see the Bromley Council Tax Reduction Guide.

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