MK City Council approve policy that terminally ill residents to no longer pay council tax

Milton Keynes City Council have approved a new policy to cover council tax for households impacted by a terminal illness diagnosis.

The City Council declared that the policy has been taken in order to make life a little easier for residents facing this incredibly difficult time, with the measure building on an existing scheme which helps people on low incomes by providing a reduction.

For residents with a terminal illness, the scheme will cover the full amount of Council Tax from the date of diagnosis.

The official decision taken yesterday (18 November) follows a motion passed earlier this year to support the Marie Curie campaign calling for fairer financial support for people at the end of life. Research by Marie Curie shows that many people spend their final weeks struggling with higher costs and reduced income.

Deputy Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, Cllr Lauren Townsend, said, “When someone receives the sad news about their diagnosis, they should be focused on what matters most and not having to worry about bills. By supporting this campaign, we want to ease the financial pressure on families at the hardest of times. This is a small but important step that can make a huge difference to people’s quality of life. It means people can spend precious time with loved ones and get the care they need without the added stress of financial worries.”

Residents who need support can apply through the city council’s website , full details will be published shortly. The award will start from the date of diagnosis.