Where discounts or exemptions or Council Tax Support is already in payment, a top up of support will be applied to 100% of the Council Tax charge over a period not exceeding 12 months from the date that the Special Rules apply.
Council Tax Support for Terminally Ill Households
Households where a terminal illness has been diagnosed may qualify for full (100%) Council Tax support for up to 12 months.
This support applies to all residential properties across Council Tax Bands A to H, regardless of any existing benefit entitlement.
Determining an application
To qualify, an SR1 form (Special Rules 1 – confirming a terminal illness) must be provided.
Further details on SR1 forms can be found at: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/information/money-and-work/sr1-form#get
Support applies to any defined household member living in the property where Council Tax is payable. This includes:
- The liable party
- A partner,
- Dependent children,
- Direct relatives living in the household (non-dependant adults)
Please note that support is only available against an occupied main home (for example second homes in Milton Keynes remain liable for Council Tax and any associated premiums.)
If you are a low-income household and feel you may qualify for further help, please visit our cost-of-living page to see what further help is available.
The term of award is to support the immediate period following the date in which the patient is thought to meet the Special Rules (confirmed via the SR1 form) for a period not exceeding 12 months.
If someone sadly passes away before the end of the 12-month term, support will continue either until the 12-month period concludes or until liability at the property comes to an end (for example, if the property is let or sold) within the award period, whichever happens first.
Where an award creates a credit on the account a refund will be made to the person named as liable for Council Tax at the property.
If you or a member of your household has been diagnosed with a terminal illness within the last 12 months, the Council will backdate your award to the confirmed Special Rule date . This support will apply for a period of up to 12 months.
For any applications for a past period where the Special Rules date has exceeded the 12 months, we will award 12 months support from the date the SR1 form is received.
If the patient has sadly passed away prior to the scheme start date of 18th November 2025 unfortunately we cannot consider support.
How to apply
The person named on the Council Tax bill should email SR1declaration@milton-keynes.gov.uk to request support under the terminal illness rules. The email must include:
- full name
- property address
- contact details
These details are required so a member of our team can get in touch for any additional information.
The qualifying person must ask their medical professional for an SR1 form. Once completed, the medical professional or support worker must email the form to SR1declaration@milton-keynes.gov.uk this is in addition to sending the SR1 form to the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP). Please ensure the email includes both sides of the completed SR1 form. As this is a localised scheme MKCC do not have access to the SR1 form via the DWP hub. Copies of the SR1 form will be accepted.