Severely Mentally Impaired Reductions

Severe Mental Impairment is a medical diagnosis, however the impairment can be caused by conditions including Dementia or Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and severe learning difficulties. For the purposes of the Local Government Finance act 1992, a person is Severely Mentally impaired if he or she has a “Severe impairment of intelligence, and social functioning, (however caused) which appears to be permanent”. In other words a severe problem, linked to intelligence that appears to be permanent.

To qualify as severely mentally impaired for this purpose, a person must be:

• Confirmed as severely mentally impaired by a registered medical practitioner
• Entitled to one of a number of certain qualifying benefits:

Employment Support Allowance (Support Component)
Severe Disablement Allowance
Unemployability supplement
Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance - Care component at middle or highest rate
Daily Living Component of the Personal Independence Payment at the standard or enhanced rate
Incapacity Benefit
Income Support where the applicable amount includes disability premiums
Unemployability supplement payable as an increase to disablement benefit
Unemployability Allowance payable with war disablement pension
Constant Attendance Allowance - one of four rates payable with Disablement Benefit or War Disablement Pension
Disability Working Allowance
Increase in the rate of Disablement Pension (increase where constant attendance needed)

If you wish to apply for this reduction, please complete an online discount form.