Disability Band Reduction

You may qualify for a disabled band reduction if: 

• A disabled adult or child lives at the property: and 
• The property has: 
  • a room, other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet, which is ‘predominantly used by’  and be ‘essential or of major importance’ to the wellbeing of the disabled person; or
  • an extra bathroom or kitchen, which is required for meeting the needs of the  disabled person; or
  • indoor wheelchair space, enough floor space to allow the disabled person to use a wheelchair.  

We will consider the room to be essential or of major importance if, were it not available: 

• The disabled person would find it physically impossible or extremely difficult to live in the property; or 
• Their health would suffer or the disability would become worse. The room or space concerned must be needed by the disabled person as a result of their disability. 

The fact that a disabled person uses a room will not, on its own, lead us to granting a reduction. We will consider the use that the disabled person has made of the room and if equipment is used, whether there is causal link between the equipment and the use of the room.  

A room used by the disabled person

A room must be adapted from its original purpose for the use of the disabled person.

For example, a downstairs sitting room now being used as a bedroom would not qualify if it also used for it’s normal purpose as a sitting room, but a room which is converted to a sensory or therapy room, a treatment room or a room to store equipment needed for the disabled person would qualify.

Examples of rooms which would not qualify;

• downstairs room used as a bedroom for a person who cannot climb stairs
• a room with extra facilities such as extra heating or a hearing loop
• installation of a commode for a person who finds it difficult to get to a lavatory

A second bathroom or kitchen 

A property with a second bathroom or kitchen does not automatically qualify for a reduction, unless the second bathroom or kitchen is essential to meet the needs of the disabled person.

 

The bathroom and kitchen do not have to be solely for use by the disabled person.

 

A shower room is treated as a bathroom.

A second, or separate, toilet is not classified as a bathroom.

Wheelchair space - only if required indoors

We will only grant the reduction if the disabled person needs to use the wheelchair to get about inside the property. If the wheelchair is only required for outdoor use, this will not qualify for the reduction. 

To apply please print off and complete the Council Tax disabled band reduction form and return it 

• By email to council.tax@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk 
• By post to Revenues Team, ESBC, PO Box 8045, Burton upon Trent DE14 9JG

If you can’t print the forms please call us on 01283 505030 and we will post one to you. 

Please note if you apply for this reduction we will arrange for an officer to visit you to assess whether or not you are entitled to it. 

If you qualify for this reduction your Council Tax charge will go down by one property band. For example, if your home is in band C your bill will be reduced to the amount of a band B charge. If your home is in band A you will still receive a reduction. 

Council Tax Penalties

The Council can impose a penalty if you fail to notify the authority of any changes to your circumstances.

Read more about council tax penalties.