what counts as severely mentally impaired council tax

[catphone]

What is classed as severely mentally impaired?

My council considers Dementia, learning difficulties, Parkinsons, stroke

It's not really clear so worth applying anyway. In my personal experience, I think if you have experience as an inpatient or have a long term condition that means you see a psychiatrist. I know someone diagnosed as bipolar who got it. No harm in asking.

I woukd imagine Huntingtons chorea as well

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for-disabled-people

Check your councils website if the person receives the benefits required, and then if they do then they, or an appropriate carer, should discuss with a medical professional whether they will be able to provide a certificate.

It's up to the doctors discretion. If the doctor signs and stamps the form to say the person qualifies and the person gets a qualifying benefit then the exemption should be applied. Can be severe mental health problems as well.

The Local Government Finance Act 1992 states:

"For the purposes of this paragraph a person is severely mentally impaired if he has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent."

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/14/schedule/1/crossheading/the-severely-mentally-impaired

It doesn't matter what the condition is. It is the impact of it. So to qualify as having Severe Mental Impairment, the claimant must have severe impairment of intelligence and severe impairment of social functioning and it must appear to be permanent.

DD1 has a SMI certificate. There is uncertainty about the pure level of learning disability that she has, but it is significant enough that she can't be left at home alone, and she requires 1:1 support at college, and is likely never going to live with any real independence. Whether it is her brain condition or her ASD, or her learning disability, or her mental health conditions that is responsible doesn't really matter (and is likely never going to be unpicked).

As above, if the person's GP is willing to sign the form, and the person is in receipt of the appropriate disability benefit then they can claim.