Thousands of individuals will not pay for council tax as 16 authorities drop costs
Thousands of people will no longer have to pay council tax with up to 16 local authorities set to drop charges for the terminally ill.
The tax breaks, which will come into effect for those with less than 12 months to live, have already been implemented in Manchester and Barnsley.
Councils in Bristol, Salford and Preston have also made commitments to remove the charges.
The policy is being introduced after end of life charity Marie Curie urged councils in England to drop the tax
The charity said 11 further councils had passed motions intending to introduce the scheme including in Newcastle, Wakefield, Wirral, Pendle, Newark and Sherwood, South Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes, Blackburn with Darwen, Liverpool, Burnley and Sheffield.
Around 111,000 people die in poverty in the UK annually and a terminal diagnosis can see lost income and increased electricity costs, according to Marie Curie.
Audrey Buckham, from Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, was forced to declare herself bankrupt while caring for her terminally ill husband Eddie.
‘It would have been great to have been council tax exempt when Eddie was first diagnosed,’ she said.
Audrey Buckham, from Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, went bankrupt while caring for her terminally ill husband Eddie
Around 430,000 people could be exempt from council tax nationwide if all councils in England implement tax breaks for those terminally ill
‘It would have been one less bill to worry about. That money could have been spent on other bills like heating, lighting, food or equipment to make Eddie’s daily living easier.
‘You shouldn’t have to worry about money or bills when you are dying. This support could go a long way to help with other unseen costs when you have a palliative diagnosis.’
Jamie Thunder, senior policy manager at Marie Curie, said: ‘With a significant proportion of terminally ill people relying on benefits as their main source of income, council tax relief can be a huge support for families facing financial hardship.
‘We applaud Manchester City Council and Barnsley City Council for leading the way.
‘These councils have set a powerful precedent for compassionate local governance, showing that practical policy change is possible.
‘We urge all councils across the country to follow suit and encourage those who have passed supportive motions to act swiftly on their commitments to make real change. No one should spend their final months worrying about bills.’
Councillor Robert Frost said: ‘At Barnsley Council, we’re committed to supporting residents when they need it the most. We’re proud of our council tax support schemes and the assistance we have in place for people that are experiencing financial hardship.
‘We recognise the emotional and often financial pressure that is placed upon people and families when someone is nearing the end-of-life due to a terminal illness. We hope that awarding the 100 per cent council tax reduction will help to remove some pressure from households during these extremely difficult times. As a council, we feel this is the right thing to do.’
