A major campaign led by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie could see council tax bills for hundreds of thousands of terminally ill people in England slashed to zero.
Charity Calls for Widespread Council Tax Relief
The charity is urging local authorities across the country to adopt policies that would exempt individuals with a terminal diagnosis from paying council tax. This initiative aims to alleviate the significant financial burden on families during an incredibly difficult time.
Marie Curie has already successfully secured commitments from 16 councils to implement this compassionate measure. Jamie Thunder, the charity's Senior Policy Manager, emphasised the critical need for this support, stating: "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."
Councils Leading the Way on Compassionate Policy
Among the local authorities praised for their leadership are Manchester City Council and Barnsley Council. Councils in Bristol, Salford, and Preston have also made firm commitments to introduce the exemption.
Furthermore, the campaign has gained significant momentum, with 11 more councils passing supportive motions to explore creating a dedicated relief policy. These include:
- Newcastle
- Wakefield
- Wirral
- Pendle
- Newark and Sherwood
- South Gloucestershire
- Milton Keynes
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Liverpool
- Burnley
- Sheffield
Robert Frost, a councillor at Barnsley Council, commented on their decision: "We’re proud of our council tax support schemes... We hope that awarding the 100 per cent council tax reduction will help to remove some pressure from households during these extremely difficult times. As a council, we feel this is the right thing to do."
A National Precedent for Financial Support
Mr Thunder described these councils as having "set a powerful precedent for compassionate local governance". He called on all other councils in England to follow their example, and for those who have passed supportive motions to act swiftly on their commitments.
The underlying message from the charity is clear and poignant: No one should spend their final months worrying about bills. With an estimated 430,000 people potentially eligible for this support, the campaign represents a crucial step towards providing financial dignity at the end of life.
