I don't think the disabled persons band reduction has the same qualifying criteria around the country. Here in York you only get it if you have a larger home than would normally be needed because of your disability i.e. you have an extra room to hold equipment for your health such as a dialasis machine, or in my case I argued that I needed the room to have fitness equipment in as I couldn't do other types of fitness due to being blind. I also use it as a home office to keep my computer in which is essential to me being able to live independently. I'm sure most blind people could manage to meet that criteria with a bit of thought. I think also having to widen doorways and things is also reason to get the reduction but I can't imagine having louder doorbells would get you it here. Peter From: roger south Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 9:35 AM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: A query about Council Tax on behalf of a friend This is a means tested benefit. If your friend gets housing benefit or income support they will get help with council tax. If not in receipt of either as I'm not you pay the full amount. But if the accommodation is fitted for disabled living you drop a band in the calculation. My heating loss means I have specially loud door and phone bells so I qualify for that. Roger ----- Original Message ----- From: James & Nash To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 11:17 AM Subject: [access-uk] A query about Council Tax on behalf of a friend Hi list, A friend asked if i would send a message to this list regarding a query about their council tax. They are Blind too and receive Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance. Their local Council have not yet made a descision about whether they are entitled to Council Tax benefit but the Council have issued a bill for payment. They're unemployed at the moment, so do people who are unemployed and on benefits generally pay council tax? Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated. Thank you Take care James, Lyn, Nash and Twinny