More info on the net from a guide to council tax. The last point is the
killer:
When considering whether a reduction should apply, councils have to decide whether the person with the disability would find it impossible or extremely difficult to live in the dwelling, or whether their health would suffer, or the disability become more severe, if the extra feature were not available in the dwelling. To qualify for a reduction, the extra room need not be specially built, but can be an existing room provided that the link between its use and the person's disability is sufficiently strong. The scheme is designed to help disabled people who live in larger houses than they would have needed if they were not disabled. The scheme is therefore not available generally to all disabled people.
Barry
Hi Peter
I got this from the RNIB web site:
You can get the disability reduction on your council tax bill if you, or anyone else living in your home, is "substantially and permanently disabled" and
needs extra space or adaptations in your home because of this.
Your home must contain either:
List of 1 items
. a room other than a bathroom, kitchen or lavatory used predominantly to meet the needs of a disabled person;
list end
or List of 1 items . an additional kitchen or bathroom for the use of a disabled person; list end
or List of 1 items . extra space inside the property so that a wheelchair can be used. list end
In addition, the local council must be satisfied that the room or adaptation is essential, or of major importance, to the disabled person's well-being because
of the nature and extent of his / her disability.
For example, you may need an extra room to store bulky equipment such as a CCTV, braille equipment or an exercise bicycle. Or you may have an extra bathroom
on the ground floor of your house because of mobility problems.
If you qualify for a disability reduction, your bill will be reduced to the band below the valuation band of your home, eg if your house is in Band D, the
bill can be reduced to that for a house in Band C.
If your home is in Band A, you will be given a reduction of one sixth of your bill.
There is no automatic entitlement to the reduction.
You should claim a reduction if you think you are entitled - contact your council's Council Tax section to make a claim.
Barry
----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter" <peterlogue@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 10:51 AM
Subject: [access-uk] A matter of council tax
Hi all,
A number of weeks ago I applied to our local tax office in an attempt to
get some kind of tax deduction for a room in my house which is used
exclusively for adaptive equipment; computer, scanner, printer, etc. I had
read on the list many months ago that local councils do give deductions for
such set-ups. In my application I told them exactly what equipment was being
used and that it was used by a blind person. The application was specific to
their office and was signed by my doctor. This morning I got a reply saying
that I did not qualify for a council tax deduction because. Quote.
You do not have an additional bathroom or kitchen to meet your needs.
You do not use a wheelchair within the property. And that no room exists for
providing therapy or otherwise.
Unquote.
Now, surely my computerand scanner and CCTV, as writing and reading tools,
can be regarded in the same manner as the wheelchair and that the room in
question, although not used for therapy, does fall under the otherwise
clause? I understand many of you have been successful in getting this
tax deduction and for those who were successful, could you give me some
pointers, some kind of clause reference to go by when I next talk to the tax
office. Perhaps you know of a clerk or office in that department that I
should get in touch with. Perhaps there is yet another level I can take this
to? I know such a deduction probably won't be much, but any savings per
month though is better in my pocket than theirs.
My location is Scotland, the West Dumbartonshire region.
Many thanks, Peter Logue
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