People providing or receiving care in the home

Some carers, and some people receiving care, may be entitled to a range of different reductions depending on their circumstances.

In all cases, the care that is being given or received must be for:

• Old age
• Physical or mental disability
• Past or present alcohol dependency
• Past or present drug dependency
• Past or present mental illness.

Discount

If a carer lives in someone else's house and provides care, he or she will not be counted when adding up the number of adults who live in the property, as long as the carer is:

• An employee (see conditions)
• A friend or relative (see conditions).

If this means that only one person is counted, you will be entitled to a 25% discount from your Council Tax bill.

If no-one is counted because everyone resident is disregarded, you will be entitled to a 50% discount off your Council Tax.

Exemption

If you have left your own home to provide care for someone else you may be entitled to exemption from Council Tax for your former home (see conditions).

Your former home may still be exempt even if you have not moved into the home of the person for whom you are caring.

Fareham Borough Council will probably have to agree with another local council that your main residence has now changed.

If you are a carer whose former home is outside Fareham you will need to contact the local council concerned.

If you want to apply for a discount or exemption for a property in Fareham, email counciltax@fareham.gov.uk.

You must inform the Council if you are no longer entitled to a discount or exemption. We will take legal action against anyone who fraudulently claims a discount or exemption.

Conditions

Conditions that apply to disregarding (not counting) a carer who is an employee living in the home

The person who is providing the care must be:

• Providing care or support through a connection with the Crown, a charity, or a Council
• Employed to provide care for at least 24 hours a week
• Paid no more than £44.00 per week to provide the care
• Resident where the care is given or in premises which have been provided for the better provision of care.

Conditions that apply to disregarding (not counting) a carer who is a relative or friend

The person providing care must not be:

• Living with the person receiving care as husband and wife
• Caring for their own child who is under the age of 18.

The person who is providing the care must be:

• Providing care for a person, who would be entitled to one of the following state benefits:

1. An attendance allowance
2. The highest or middle rate of the care component of a disability living allowance
3. The highest rate of disablement pension
4. An increase in a constant attendance allowance.

• Resident in the same home as the person to whom care is being provided
• Providing care for at least 35 hours per week on average

Conditions that apply to exemptions for premises left empty while the former resident is providing care elsewhere

• The property concerned must have been the carer's main home and not anyone else's main home
• The carer must have moved home to provide better care than would have been possible if he or she had not moved.

For further information please contact the Council Tax office on Tel: 01329 824651, or e-mail counciltax@fareham.gov.uk.