Terminally ill people with less than a year to live in Manchester have become the first in England to be exempt from council tax. Manchester City Council has changed its Discretionary Council Tax Policy for people with a terminal diagnosis “to ease the burden” on their health, stress and finances.
End of life charity Marie Curie, which has worked with the authority on the “pioneering” plans, said the council was the first in England to offer full exemption for people with a terminal illness. Jamie Thunder, senior policy manager for financial security at Marie Curie, said: “We applaud Manchester City Council for recognising that people living with terminal illness need more financial support, including with their council tax.
“The proposed changes will make Manchester the first council in England to offer full council tax exemption for people with a terminal illness.
“This shows there are tools at local authorities’ disposal to offer meaningful financial support to people facing poverty at the end of life.
“We now urgently need more councils to adopt a similar approach, to help more people live out their last months, weeks, and days without needing to worry about their bills.”
Under the proposal, the council will use an SR1 document – a form issued by clinicians who can confirm a terminal medical condition – to effectively cut council tax entirely for that household, from the date that the form has been issued, until death.
More than 300 people die in poverty every day in the UK according to Marie Curie’s Dying in Poverty 2024 report.
One terminally-ill resident known only as Margaret, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, told Marie Curie: “I am unable to work, so have much less money coming in than before.
“It’s bad enough being ill, but we desperately need more support, not only with health issues, but with finances.”
Audrey, from Houghton-le-Spring, in Sunderland, told the charity she declared herself bankrupt caring for her terminally ill husband, Eddie, who since died.
“It would have been great to have been council tax exempt when Eddie was first diagnosed,” she 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 activities of daily living easier.
“You shouldn’t have to worry about money or bills when you are dying. Being council tax exempt would have been one less bill to worry about. It would go a long way to help with other unseen costs when you have a palliative diagnosis.”
Marie Curie says the cost of powering at-home medical devices, having the heating on longer and higher to help with symptom management, along with a number of other expenses associated with terminal illness, can all add up to unsurmountable pressures for affected households.
However, as budgets have tightened, many councils in England have reduced the amount of support they can offer regarding council tax bills for low-income residents.
Marie Curie is asking councils to identify ways they can best use tools already at their disposal, including setting Council Tax Support rates.
Council Tax Support provides a reduction in someone’s council tax bill depending on their income and could be used to make people dying of a terminal illness a protected group.
People affected by terminal illness could also be given access to the Household Support Fund or other discretionary housing payments.
The charity also says it hopes to create a network where best practice and advice on the needs of people facing terminal illness can be shared to improve local policies and ways of working.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said: “The moment when you or your family member gets the devasting news of terminal illness is heartbreaking.
“The last thing you need to worry about money and bills, but we know for too many people it takes up too much time and stress.
“Too many people are living in poverty in our city, and the council is committed to doing all it can to alleviate it in the short term and build ways out of poverty in the long term.
“That’s why we are exempting people with a terminal illness from Council Tax alongside a wider package of support with the cost of living.
“We want to thank Marie Curie for their vital work, and as a council want to do all we can to ease the burden at the end of someone’s life.”
Since December 2022, Marie Curie has supported over 4,000 people with support and information around energy bills and the cost of living.
The charity has a free online benefits calculator and dedicated Energy Support Officers who can talk through benefits and support available from energy suppliers, grants, and give energy efficiency updates.
For support visit mariecurie.org.uk or call the free Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.