Council tax relief plan for end-of-life care

A council in Nottinghamshire has announced plans to provide council tax relief to households where someone is receiving end-of-life care.

Newark and Sherwood District Council said the scheme, due to be implemented in April, is "a small way we can support residents when they need us most".

As part of the initiative, which follows a campaign by charity Marie Curie, homes which receive Local Council Tax Support will be eligible for 100% council tax relief if someone in the property is receiving end-of-life care.

"No family should have to worry about council tax when they are dealing with the heartbreak and trauma of terminal illness," said council leader Paul Peacock.

"This scheme is about compassion, dignity, and is a small way we can support residents when they need us most.

"We know that financial pressures can add stress at a time when families should be focusing on care and spending time together and we want to do all we can to ensure time is spent in the right way."

The council is the first in Nottinghamshire to implement the scheme, and follows similar announcements by Manchester City Council and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Hannah Drury, public affairs officer at Marie Curie, said: "With a significant proportion of terminally ill people relying on benefits as their main source of income, council tax relief is a huge support for families facing financial hardship.

"We applaud Newark and Sherwood District Council's plans to lighten the financial burden for those with a terminal illness, and the other councils who have already committed to providing council tax relief for dying people.

"These councils continue to set a powerful precedent for compassionate local governance, showing that practical policy change is possible.

"We urge all councils across the country to follow suit urgently and encourage those who have passed supportive motions to act swiftly on their commitments to make real change. No-one should spend their final months worrying about bills."

The relief will be available from April and continue until the end of the financial year in which the person receiving care has died.

Further details on the application process are due to be released in the coming months.

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