An end-of-life charity has called on councils across England to scrap council tax for people living with a terminal illness.
Marie Curie’s call follows Manchester City Council’s proposal to change its discretionary council tax policy to support people diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Under the proposal, the council will use an SR1 document, a form issued by clinicians who can confirm a terminal medical condition, to cut council tax for that household until the death of the resident.
Council leader Bev Craig 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 is money and bills, but we know for too many people it takes up too much time and stress.’
Jamie Thunder, senior policy manager for Financial Security at Marie Curie, said: ‘The proposed changes will make Manchester the first council in England to offer full council tax exemption for people with a terminal illness.’
‘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,’ he added.
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