Terminally ill residents to no longer pay council tax in Milton Keynes
Households impacted by a terminal illness in Milton Keynes will no longer need to pay council tax thanks to a newly approved policy.
Milton Keynes City Council said the decision was made to make life a little easier for those facing this incredibly difficult time. It builds on the city council’s existing scheme which gives reductions to people on low incomes. For residents with a terminal illness, the scheme will cover the full amount of council tax from the date of diagnosis.
The new policy was officially approved on Tuesday, November 18. The decision follows a proposal 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, Councillor 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, where full details will be published shortly.