Martin Lewis fan gets £1,100 council tax back payment after taking advice

Martin Lewis has explained how anyone who is living with dementia can have their council tax slashed. And the financial expert said that many councils were totally unaware of the concessions which could make a huge difference to the finances of some vulnerable people and their families.

Mr Lewis said that the key to getting a severe mental impairment discount is making sure that there is an official diagnosis. Taking to X, he said: “When I first launched my campaign on it in 2016, we found that many councils, front line staff, didn’t know about it when they were asked about it.

“A severe mental impairment. Horrible term, not mine. An SMI is defined as a severe mental impairment of intelligence and social functioning, which appears to be permanent. To qualify for to be discounted, it must be medically certified. You need a doctor to sign this.”

Explaining the areas which would mean people qualify for an SME, Mr Lewis said: ”It is common with severe dementia, stroke, severe Parkinson’s, brain injuries and other conditions. Those are the type of conditions that will get an SMI to claim it. That person must also be on a qualifying benefit in Scotland. Actually, they must be eligible for a qualifying benefit, even if they’re not actually claiming it.”

A key benefit is Attendance Allowance which Mr Lewis said was ‘massively under claimed’. It can also include those who get disability living allowance, personal independence payments, severe disablement allowance and, in some cases, universal credit.

He added: “So really big. If you know someone in that situation. Often people in that situation can’t claim for themselves. Very common is that someone with an SMI is living with their partner, so the 25% discount is the most common one there, and it will generally be the partner who is claiming, and you can do it on their behalf as long as it’s all kosher.”

Martin Lewis Money Show Live presenter Jeanette Kwakye explained: “Trisha did exactly that. She helped a friend here following watching one of Martin’s shows.” And Jeanette read out: “I helped a friend to claim SMI due to a dementia diagnosis. They received £1,100 in back payment and their monthly payment has gone from £162 pounds. So thank you so so much in that.”