Twenty-seven local authorities across England have introduced council tax exemptions or reductions that result in £0 bills for terminally ill residents. The measure, which is administered under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), means eligible households no longer need to pay council tax.
Charity Calls for Nationwide Adoption
Marie Curie, the end-of-life charity, is now calling on all councils to adopt the same policy. The charity says the financial relief could make a significant difference to people in their final months. Becca Stacey, Marie Curie’s senior policy manager for financial security, highlighted the scale of the problem: “For more than one in six people who die in the UK each year, the last period of life is marked by financial difficulty.”
“People are often no longer able to work, and can face rising costs for energy, transport and vital medical equipment. It can mean additional stress and social isolation at the worst possible time,” Stacey added.
Personal Impact: Audrey’s Story
The human impact is illustrated by Audrey from Houghton-le-Spring, who declared herself bankrupt while caring for her terminally ill husband, Eddie. She described the stress of managing bills during that period. “It would have been great to have been council tax exempt when Eddie was first diagnosed,” Audrey said.
“It would have been one less bill to worry about. That money could have been spent on other bills like heating, lighting, food or equipment to make Eddie's daily living easier. You shouldn't have to worry about money or bills when you are dying. This support could go a long way to help with other unseen costs when you have a palliative diagnosis,” she explained.
Macmillan Backs the Call
Chris Ransom, Head of Services at Macmillan Cancer Support, also voiced support for wider adoption. “We know that cancer can impact every part of someone's life and, for many, the financial impact can be just as overwhelming as the physical and emotional effects of a diagnosis,” he said.
“Too many people are left navigating rising living costs from travelling to appointments, or using more heating if they feel the cold more because of their treatment. They may also experience a loss of income if they need to work less or give up work completely. All of this comes at a time when they should be focusing on their health. No one should spend precious time worrying about money at the end of their life,” Ransom added.
List of Participating Councils
The 27 councils that have introduced the exemption or reduction include: County Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire, Barnsley, Wakefield, Blackburn with Darwen, Cheshire West and Chester, Burnley, Pendle, Preston, Manchester, Salford, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, Broxtowe, Gedling, Newark and Sherwood, Barnet, Camden, Elmbridge, Wealden, Milton Keynes, and Bristol.
The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Wales) Regulations set out the details that local authorities must include in their CTRS. With the support of Marie Curie and Macmillan, there is growing pressure for all councils to follow suit, ensuring no terminally ill person has to worry about council tax in their final days.
