Martin Lewis says people can get Council Tax discount due to medical decision

Martin Lewis has UK households could get a Council Tax discount over a medical condition suffered by one million people in the UK. BBC Sounds and ITV star Mr Lewis has unveiled a way to slash your council tax bill if you live with someone who has been diagnosed with dementia - and it could save you thousands of pounds.

Money Saving Expert founder Mr Lewis stressed the importance of an official diagnosis to access what's known as a severe mental impairment (SMI) discount. 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."

He added: "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."

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"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," Mr Lewis said.

He said: "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."

One reader got in touch with the ITV show to explain: "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."