Latest local authority joins movement to use council tax discretionary relief (CTDR) and housing payment (HP) policy to support those at the end of their lives
Barnet Council in London has announced it is joining other local authorities in a scheme to ease financial pressures on terminally ill people.
Photo by William Warby / Unsplash
Last year, the end-of-life charity Marie Curie led a campaign calling for local authorities across England to review the financial support they offer to people with a terminal illness and their loved ones. It urged councils to ensure that people with less than 12 months to live are exempt from paying council tax.
Manchester City Council was the first to introduce such a support scheme, last summer, by changing its discretionary council tax policy (DCTP) to explicitly include a commitment to support those with a terminal illness. To be eligible, residents must have a ‘special rules’ SR1 medical form – an official acknowledgement, signed by a qualified clinician, that they have progressive disease and are expected to pass away within 12 months.
In October, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council introduced a similar scheme, offering discounts of up to 100% on council tax depending on circumstance. Again, to be eligible residents must have an SR1 form.
Now Barnet Council is introducing its own measures. Under the new system, residents qualify for a reduction in council tax where they are liable for the tax, receive council tax support and have an SR1 form. Terminally ill residents who do not meet all three requirements can still apply for support through the general CTDR system – the council says individual circumstances will be considered holistically.
Cllr Simon Radford, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability at Barnet Council, says: ‘This policy change is about dignity, fairness and supporting people at the most difficult point in their lives. Charities say that removing or reducing Council Tax helps families who may be dealing with loss of income, increased care costs, and the emotional strain of end‑of‑life care. We want residents who are terminally ill to receive help quickly, without facing complicated processes or unnecessary stress.’
Cllr Caroline Stock, Vice-Chair of the Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee, adds: ‘I’m proud to have brought forward the motion, which ensures that residents facing the most difficult moments of their lives are met with compassion rather than unnecessary bureaucracy. People living with a terminal diagnosis deserve a system that supports them, not one that adds to their burden. By adopting this policy, the council has taken an important and dignified step toward a more compassionate borough, and I’m grateful to colleagues for uniting behind this vital change.’
Toby North, Head of Public Affairs at Marie Curie, says: ‘We applaud Barnet Council for removing this burden from those with a terminal illness, and the councils who have already committed to providing council tax relief for dying people. These councils continue to 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.’
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