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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Other areas of social welfare law  →  Thread

Council Tax Discount SMI

juliem
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Macmillan welfare rights advisor - Barnsley MBC, Barnsley

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Total Posts: 153

Joined: 17 June 2010

“For purposes of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 a person is severely mentally impaired if he/she has a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent.”

I have an enquiry re this discount from someone whose cancer diagnosis has resulted in severe bouts of depression AT TIMES.  (Their words but I can’t seem to get it in bold so have had to put in capitals).

Has anyone any experience of trying to apply for SMI discount on those sort of grounds ? I think it’s unlikely to succedd but would like further opinions.

Thanks

nottsappointee
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Appointee and Deputyship, Nottinghamshire County Council

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Joined: 5 October 2023

We do a LOT of SMI in appointeeship and I’d be very surprised if it got approved for that. The key thing is impairment of intelligence AND social functioning. While depression may impact their social functioning it wouldn’t usually impact their intelligence. Mostly we see this for people with learning disabilities and cognitive impairments, dementia, etc. The permanence would also be an issue.

juliem
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Macmillan welfare rights advisor - Barnsley MBC, Barnsley

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Total Posts: 153

Joined: 17 June 2010

Thank you, I shall feed that back.