Council tax to be scrapped for terminally ill

Councillors in Wakefield have approved plans to spare terminally ill residents from having to pay council tax.

In September, Wakefield Council voted unanimously in favour of offering financial support to residents who had been told they had under 12 months to live.

On Tuesday, the authority's cabinet agreed to implement the move from the start of the next financial year on 1 April.

Around 340 residents in the district potentially qualify for the discount at any given time, the Local Democracy Service reports.

The exemption applies to any person, or any member of their household, who has received confirmation of their health status.

Marie Curie and Hospice UK are among the charities urging local councils and devolved governments to make the exemption, with Manchester City Council the first to change its policy in July.

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

Councillor David Pickersgill, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for resources, told the meeting on Tuesday: "We are doing this for everyone rather than means testing it.

"We accept that some people may get pension or insurance payouts on getting such a diagnosis.

"But almost everyone faces increased costs, and we didn't want people coming to terms with a really serious diagnosis thinking, do I qualify?"

The maximum annual cost of awarding a full discount to all qualifying residents was estimated to be £709,000.

Drury said: "We applaud Wakefield Council for taking steps towards this, and the councils who have already committed to providing council tax relief for dying people.

"We urge all councils across the country to follow suit and encourage those who have passed supportive motions to act swiftly on their commitments to make real change."

She added: "No one should spend their final months worrying about bills."

Other local authorities, including Burnley Council and Bristol City Council, have also committed to introduce the discount.

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