Council tax: thousands may not have to pay under new charity bill payment reduction campaign - full list
The charity is urging local councils to act with compassion to support families 💛
- Charity Marie Curie is urging more councils to exempt terminally ill people from paying council tax
- 16 councils in England have already pledged to introduce or explore full council tax relief
- Manchester and Barnsley have rolled out the change, with others including Bristol, Salford and Preston set to follow
- The charity warns that around 111,000 people die in poverty each year in the UK
- It says scrapping the tax offers a simple, compassionate way to ease financial pressure on families
Thousands of people could soon be spared paying council tax under a growing campaign led by charity Marie Curie, with more than a dozen councils already pledging to scrap the charge.
The charity has successfully persuaded 16 local authorities in England to exempt terminally ill residents at the end of their lives from council tax, with hopes that dozens more will follow suit in the coming months.
Marie Curie, which supports people living with terminal illness, said the cost of dying has never been higher, and warned that around 111,000 people in the UK die in poverty each year.
Losing income due to illness, coupled with rising energy bills and care costs, can leave families in financial crisis during what should be a time focused on care and comfort.
Jamie Thunder, senior policy manager at Marie Curie, said: “Council tax relief can make a huge difference for families already struggling to cope.
“Manchester and Barnsley have shown that compassionate local governance is possible – we now need every council to act. No one should spend their final months worrying about bills.”
Which councils are offering council tax relief?
Manchester City Council became one of the first to roll out full council tax relief for terminally ill residents over the summer, while Barnsley Council introduced its own scheme last month.
Similar commitments have now been made in Bristol, Salford and Preston, where plans are expected to go live soon. A further 11 councils have all passed motions supporting the move and are exploring how to make it a reality.
The following is a list of the councils that have either introduced council tax relief for terminally ill residents, of have expressed their support for similar schemes in the future:
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
- Bristol City Council
- Burnley Borough Council
- Liverpool City Council
- Manchester City Council
- Milton Keynes City
- Newark and Sherwood District Council
- Newcastle City Council
- Pendle Borough Council
- Preston City Council
- Salford City Council
- Sheffield City Council
- South Gloucestershire Council
- Wakefield Council
- Wirral Council
Barnsley councillor Robert Frost said that the decision to offer 100% council tax reductions for terminally ill residents was “the right thing to do,” and would help remove pressure from families “during these extremely difficult times.”
Marie Curie is urging other councils to follow suit, calling the movement “a simple, humane way” to support those most in need.
Residents who want to check if they qualify for council tax relief, including exemptions for terminally ill people or other local support schemes, should start with their local council’s website.
Most councils have a “Council Tax Support” or “Benefits and reductions” section where you can search terms like “council tax discount”, “discretionary support”, or “hardship relief”.