For Council Tax purposes, someone is considered severely mentally impaired if they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent.
This includes people who are severely mentally impaired as a result of a degenerative brain disorder such as Alzheimer's disease or other form of dementia. The person must have a certificate of confirmation signed by a registered medical practitioner and stamped by the Medical Practice.
If you are making a retrospective claim you must submit a letter of entitlement from the Department of Works and Pensions which states which benefit was in payment and the date that benefit was paid from.
You must meet the above medical conditions and receive one or more of the following benefits:
- attendance allowance
- severe disablement allowance
- care component of disability living allowance (middle or high rate)
- daily living component of personal independence payment
- employment and support allowance
- disabled element of working tax credits
- income support which includes a disability premium
- armed forces independence payment
- incapacity benefit
- increased rate in disablement pension (where constant attendance needed)
- universal credit which includes the limited capability for work element and work related activity
- standard or enhanced rate of daily living component of adult disability payment
- highest or middle rate of care component of child disability payment
- working tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- universal credit which includes an amount relating to limited capability for work and work related activity, or would do, but not for the fact that they are a member of a couple with a joint award with limited capability for work and work related activity included in respect of the other member of the couple