Terminally Ill Council Tax Discount in Wakefield

What the Discount Covers

From 1 April 2026, Wakefield Council provides a 100% council tax discount for residents who have received a medical diagnosis of terminal illness with a prognosis of less than 12 months to live. This is a local discretionary discount under Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

A 100% discount means the resident's entire council tax liability is reduced to zero. This is not capped at 70% like the working-age Council Tax Support scheme — it covers the full bill.

Who Qualifies

The discount is available to a Wakefield household that meets two conditions:

1. The household is liable for council tax on a property in the Wakefield district
2. A resident of the household has a terminal illness with a prognosis of less than 12 months

The discount is not means-tested. Income, savings, employment status, and age are irrelevant. It applies to both working-age and pension-age residents.

How to Apply

Contact Wakefield Council's Council Tax and Benefits Service to ask for the application route and required evidence. Call 0345 8 504 504 or write to the council.

You will need medical evidence of the terminal prognosis. An SR1 form (formerly DS1500) is used for DWP claims under the Special Rules for End of Life; if you have one, ask the council whether it can support your Council Tax application and what else it needs.

How It Interacts with Other Discounts

If you're already receiving Council Tax Support (CTS), the terminally ill discount replaces it — since the terminal illness discount covers 100% of the bill, there's nothing left for CTS to reduce. The same applies to the single person discount and any other existing reductions: the 100% discount covers the entire liability.

The scheme provides a 100% discount for a household with an eligible terminally ill resident. If more than one adult is named as liable, contact the council to confirm that the discount is reflected correctly on the account.

Related Support

A terminal diagnosis also qualifies for fast-track access to several DWP benefits under the "special rules":

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — awarded at the enhanced daily living rate without a face-to-face assessment
• Attendance Allowance — for those over State Pension age, awarded at the higher rate
• Universal Credit — a terminal illness can qualify you for the limited capability for work-related activity element under special rules; ask DWP how the amount and start date apply to your claim

These DWP benefits are fully disregarded under Wakefield's CTS scheme, but more importantly, they provide additional income during a period of immense pressure. Macmillan Cancer Support (0808 808 0000) and Marie Curie (0800 090 2309) both have benefits advisors who can help with claims.

Council tax liability after a death — including executor responsibilities and the Class F exemption for an unoccupied, unfurnished property, which can continue for up to six months after the grant of probate or letters of administration — is covered separately at bereavementstartguide.com.

For a full walkthrough of Wakefield's standard CTS scheme, the Wakefield Council Tax Reduction guide covers the income bands, application process, and appeals.

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