A PIONEERING approach to tackle end-of-life poverty in Barnsley will result in council tax being waived for those who are battling terminal illness.
Although Barnsley Council currently operates a discretionary support scheme, bosses have revealed plans to follow Manchester City Council’s lead in implementing a 100 per cent reduction.
It means there would be no council tax to pay from the date the illness was confirmed, up to two months after the date of death.
Carried out as part of a larger plan to support the most vulnerable residents in the town, the council confirmed it has been looking at ways to help those who are struggling.
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.
Coun Robert Frost, cabinet spokesperson for core services, said: “The council already operates a discretionary council tax support scheme for those residents suffering severe financial hardship or who find themselves in unique circumstances.
“That said, we are currently in the process of gaining approval to introduce an additional scheme that supports our residents when someone within their household receives a terminal diagnosis.
“It’s proposed to introduce a local council tax discount to support households where one occupant is near the end of life.
“It is acknowledged that there is great emotional and often financial pressure placed upon people in this situation, and awarding a council tax reduction can remove some pressure from the household.
“We’ll be proposing a 100 per cent reduction, meaning there would be no council tax to pay from the date this was confirmed, up to two months after the date of death.
“As a council, we feel this is the right thing to do, and local authorities have powers within Local Government Act 2003 to create local council tax discounts to create targeted discounts and disregards to alleviate local pressures residents may face.”
The move comes after the charity, Marie Curie, published a report - titled Dying In Poverty - which resulted in leaders launching a campaign relating to the scrapping of council tax for terminally ill residents.
Jamie Thunder, from Marie Curie, said: “The end of someone’s life should be a time to focus on what really matters but for too many people it’s dominated by financial difficulty as their income drops and costs rise.
“Taking this pioneering step will make a real difference to people with a terminal illness at the time they need it most.
“More than 300 people die in poverty every day in the UK.
“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 insurmountable 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.
“But this plan shows there are tools at local authorities’ disposal to offer meaningful financial support to people facing poverty at the end of life.
“We hope other councils across the country will follow suit, and help to ensure that no-one dies in poverty.”
