Council Tax exemption for terminally ill residents

In Blackburn with Darwen, extra help will now be available for terminally ill residents already receiving Council Tax Support through a new scheme introduced by the council under its Section 13A discretionary powers.

The scheme offers additional council tax relief to help reduce financial pressures for those who are believed to have 12 months or less to live.

Councillor Vicky McGurk, executive member for finance and governance at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We know that residents facing the final stages of a terminal illness are often dealing with significant emotional and financial pressures at an incredibly difficult time for them and their families.

"This support is intended to help residents on the lowest incomes by reducing one source of worry and providing some financial reassurance where it is needed most.

"By using our discretionary Section 13A powers, Blackburn with Darwen Council is ensuring eligible residents can access additional council tax support in a compassionate and sensitive way."

The decision follows similar actions taken by other councils across England—such as Manchester, Liverpool, and Bristol—after end-of-life charity Marie Curie called for more financial support for terminally ill residents.

Eligibility for the new exemption will be linked to the existing Council Tax Support scheme, which is means-tested for people on low incomes.

Toby North, head of public affairs at Marie Curie, welcomed the move and said it sets an important example for other councils to follow.

Mr North said: "The end of 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 associated with a terminal illness rise.

"We’re delighted that Blackburn with Darwen Council is among some of the first in the country to provide specific support with council tax to people facing 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.

"We hope to expand our campaign further, with more councils across England following suit to ease the financial burden on people at the end of life."