An investigation by MoneySavingExpert (MSE) has revealed that one in five council websites in England and Wales displayed incorrect qualifying criteria for the live-in Carer Council Tax discount. The errors, which had potentially existed since 2013 when eligibility rules were extended, may have deterred up to five million unpaid carers from claiming the discount.
Martin Lewis, founder of MSE, said carers typically missed out on between £500 and £1,000 of support each year as a result. With all councils now having updated their websites with correct information, Lewis urged carers to check whether they qualify for the discount. Around 5.8 million people in the UK are unpaid carers, according to the latest Census data.
The revelation comes amid wider debate over council tax reform. Lewis has also highlighted that up to 400,000 homes in England and Scotland are in the wrong council tax band, potentially entitling occupants to refunds of thousands of pounds. He advised homeowners to check if neighbours in similar properties are in a lower band and to evaluate their home's 1991 value.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham criticised the current system as unfair, noting that residents in some areas pay higher council tax than those in larger London homes. He endorsed reforms initiated by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. However, Downing Street denied reports that the government is considering replacing council tax and stamp duty with an annual charge on property or land values.
Labour MP Jonathan Brash, chair of the cross-party group on council tax reform, called for “wholesale reform”, pointing out that band A homes in Hartlepool pay nearly 2.5 times more than similar homes in Westminster.
