My partner has just recieved her autism diagnosis, she has requested her GP to sign a council letter confirming that Autism is an SMI so she can get the SMI discount. The GP has stated it is not an SMI and refuses to sign? We live in Wales.
My partner has just recieved her autism diagnosis, she has requested her GP to sign a council letter confirming that Autism is an SMI so she can get the SMI discount. The GP has stated it is not an SMI and refuses to sign? We live in Wales.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with the other contributors here. You need much more than an autism diagnosis to be considered for council tax discount based on a serious mental illness. You also need to be eligible for certain disability benefits.
I recommend your next course of action is to contact a citizen's advice bureau.
If your partner has just been diagnosed she probably wouldn't qualify. Someone who has made it to adulthood and managed to be in a healthy relationship is not on the end of the spectrum that would be classed as "Severely Mentally Impaired". People who are SMI would be the type of autism where they'll never live independently or need huge input from external agencies to achieve that goal.
My aunt is SMI end of autism, she never finished primary school (apparently this was fine for disabled children in the 50s), can't read more than 3 letter words, can't count, has no concept of money, went to a college for people with severe disabilities and day centres with learning programmes and she never achieved making tea independently.
She now lives in an assisted living facility with carers and has a social worker. Frankly if the social worker phoned me and told me she was in a relationship with someone capable of posting on an Internet forum I'd be tearing down walls because it would clearly be inappropriate.
You do have the right to ask and seek another medical profession that is treating you or even the person who diagnosed your partner to sign the council letter but it might come at a price ranging from £30 to £200 pounds or to arrange an appointment with the professional who diagnosed your partner.
Things to consider when making applying Severely Mentally Impaired discount is you living situation. if you live two live together in the same property you may only be entitled to 25% discount. Severely Mentally Impaired discount doesn't just apply to those who can't live independently.
Severely Mentally Impaired discount has been awarded to individuals with depression & anxiety and the criteria is extremely vague and up to interpretation. You would usually qualify Severely Mentally Impaired discount if it affect your ability to gain and maintain full time employment. Even if you working part time under sixteen hours a week because illness or disability you still should qualify.
If you do not achieve Severely Mentally Impaired discount you can still apply for a council tax discount if you are both on low income or one or more of you are on benefits. The council tax discount like the Severely Mentally Impaired discount varies on circumstances.
Circumstances that may affect your application for council tax discount includes are income, partner or spouses employment and even the property you reside in. If the property you live has adaptation such as specialised bathroom you may have to provide evidence.
Your local authority should have a department called welfare rights that is a part of social services or social care department that can help you sort out benefits and claims like council tax reductions. They can help pressure the doctor if they fill their is a need for the discount to get the doctor to sign the document.
Just because you have a diagnosis of autism does not mean that you are automatically entitled to benefits. It can be very difficult to prove your disability is sufficient to claim.
Your doctor probably considers you to function to a sufficient standard to not require help. So you need to be clear about what help you need in your home setting in order to get the benefit. And you need to be able to demonstrate that you need this help. Your GP does not think you need any help so it will be very difficult. The same problems apply to those who want a Personal Independence Payment, they are not set up to understand the problems of autistic people. And if you are in work in a 'normal' sort of job it is especially difficult to convince them that you need extra help.
Have you received a diagnosis detailing the difficulties you have? The person who diagnosed you is much better qualified to state the difficulties you have by way of your autism than your GP, and your report may be sufficient or they may sign your council letter, stating their qualifications, and that could be acceptable.
In context autism in many cases is unlikely to be considered to meet the criteria of a serious mental illness by a GP unless the presentation of the patient is such that the condition significantly impedes day to day living. Keep in mind that GPS are forever being asked to sign things and in doing so each time they risk their professional reputation - so there is often a degree of unwillingness on their part. You can ask to see another GP for a second opinion as that is within your rights - alternatively write off to the council with evidence if the diagnosis stating that whilst the council accept that autism is SMI, the GP has been uncooperative and ask for their advice.
as far as i can see u only get a discount if your house has been adapted in some way or a room has to be used solely for treatment. I live in a different region but that seems to be the pattern. u cant make a doctor sign and be careful pushing as he can also remove u from his list of patients. i could be wrong about the discount,,,,,ask at your CAB citizens advice bureau.
