Martin Lewis says ‘poor info’ from councils could be costing carers hundreds of pounds

Martin Lewis has criticized councils accused of giving citizens false information about council tax cuts worth hundreds of pounds.

Nearly one in five councils (69) in England and Wales do not provide accurate or up-to-date information online about live-in carer council tax relief, according to research by MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE).

The consumer website set up by Mr Lewis said this was likely to stop many of the UK’s five million carers from claiming their rights.

The rebate can reduce council tax by 25 or 50 percent; this typically equates to £500 or £1,000 per year.

MSE found that 80 other councils did not include any information on entitlements to take advantage of the discount, creating a further deterrent for those who might be eligible.

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, said: “Unpaid carers cannot rely on councils’ information about Carers Council Tax discounts. Any carers who think they are not eligible after checking council websites should check again (use Carers UK’s help pages). If you have missed out due to councils’ poor information, ask for a discount back to the first point of eligibility, but different councils have different rules.

“Thirty-five hours of unpaid care a week is no small feat. This army of up to five million carers provides a silent and often unthanked backbone that eases the burden on the NHS and the care system, reducing the cost to government.”

The money expert added that the problem was “made worse” by the fact that official Gov.uk pages on council tax do not contain information about benefits that qualify for council tax. He said he had written to all relevant councils to ask them to update their information.

Mr Lewis added that a possible explanation for the oversight was that carer rules were changed in 2013 and many councils have not updated their online guidance since then.

To qualify for the discount, applicants must provide at least 35 hours of unpaid care per week to someone in their household who does not have a spouse, partner or child under 18.

This person is also required to receive a range of qualifying benefits, including attendance allowance, disability allowance and – since 2013 – personal independence allowance (PIP).

Helen Walker, CEO of Carers UK, said: “Unpaid carers provide a staggering £184bn boost to the UK economy each year, but this comes at a significant personal and financial cost. They are often at a financial disadvantage, as caring for someone can impact your ability to work, and additional expenses such as specialist food and clothing and higher utility bills can add to daily living costs.

“It is completely unacceptable that carers are being presented with incorrect information when they need help so urgently. It is vital they have the correct facts about council tax relief in front of them to help them claim their rights.”

Independent It approached the Local Government Association, the national membership body for councils in England, for comment.