Who can apply?
You may qualify for a Council Tax discount if:
- The property is liable for Council Tax under Knowsley Council.
- A terminally ill person lives at the property where the discount is being applied.
- They have been issued a completed SR1 form confirming their condition.
An SR1 form is a medical report completed by a registered medical professional that confirms a terminal illness. This document is used to support benefit claims and applications for Council Tax discounts.
You can find more about the SR1 form on the Marie Curie website.
How much is the discount?
The Council Tax discount can cover up to 100% of your bill, depending on your circumstances and any other discounts you may be entitled to.
If you qualify for other discounts, these will be applied first to reduce your bill. The terminal illness discount will then be added, to reduce your remaining bill to nil, where applicable.
How to apply
Applications can be submitted from 1 April 2026.
A family member or someone you trust can apply for you. If you need help with your application, please contact us.
You will be asked to:
- provide an image or scanned copy of both sides of the completed SR1 form
- include the Council Tax reference number for the property — you will find this on the Council Tax bill
- include your name and address if you can't find the Council Tax reference number.
What happens next?
Once your application and supporting evidence are received:
- We will review your eligibility.
- If your application is approved, we will send you an updated Council Tax bill, showing the discount.
- If your application is refused, we will explain why and tell you how to ask for a review of the decision.
How long does the discount last?
The discount begins from the date the SR1 form is issued, but not before 1st April 2026 (the date the discount was introduced).
The discount will continue until the earliest of the following:
- The date the terminally ill person no longer lives at the property.
- 8 weeks after the date of death of the terminally ill person.
If the terminally ill person moves out of the property, the discount will end for that address. However, if they move to another property within the Knowsley Council area, they can apply for the discount at their new address.
If the person has moved to a hospice or hospital for end-of-life care, the discount will continue.
What if my Council Tax changes?
If your Council Tax liability changes, the discount will be adjusted so that it does not exceed the new amount.
Examples:
- If you currently receive a 25% Single Occupancy Discount and a 75% Terminal Illness Discount, you receive bill a full 100% discount. If someone moves in with you, your single person discount would end. However, your terminal illness discount would then increase to 100%.
- If you get a 100% Terminal Illness Discount and a carer moves, you may qualify for a 25% carer discount. If you receive this, your Terminal Illness Discount reduce to 75%, so the total discount remains 100%.
What if I pay Council Tax for another property?
The discount can only be applied to one property. If the terminally ill person is liable for more than one address, the discount will only be awarded for the persons sole or main residence.
What if my property is not within Knowsley Council’s area?
We can only award this discount for properties that are liable for Council Tax within the Knowsley borough. If you have moved to a property outside the Knowsley Council area, you will need to contact the Council for your new area to check whether they offer a Terminal Illness Discount.
Please let us know about any changes that might affect your entitlement to the discount. Once you tell us, we will update the discount on your Council Tax account.
Contact details
If you have further questions, please contact us.
Telephone 0151 443 4476
Email local.taxation@knowsley.gov.uk
You can view our policy for details regarding Terminal illness here.