Hendon Town Hall
Barnet Council has announced new support for residents who are terminally ill, to ease the financial pressure faced by people at the end of their lives.
The change will mean that, dependent upon their situation, residents will not have to pay Council Tax as part of the Council Tax Discretionary Relief (CTDR) and Housing Payment (HP) Policy.
Barnet will become one of the first councils in London to offer Council Tax relief following similar decisions by Manchester City Council and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.
Barnet joins a growing national movement driven by charities including the UK's leading end of life charity, Marie Curie, to ensure local residents receive clear and compassionate support during the most difficult period of their lives.
Cllr Simon Radford, Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability, said:
“This policy change is about dignity, fairness and supporting people at the most difficult point in their lives. Charities say that removing or reducing Council Tax helps families who may be dealing with loss of income, increased care costs, and the emotional strain of end‑of‑life care. We want residents who are terminally ill to receive help quickly, without facing complicated processes or unnecessary stress.”
Cllr Caroline Stock, Vice-chair of Barnet’s Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee, who first highlighted this issue with a motion brought to the council, said:
“I’m proud to have brought forward the motion, which ensures that residents facing the most difficult moments of their lives are met with compassion rather than unnecessary bureaucracy. People living with a terminal diagnosis deserve a system that supports them, not one that adds to their burden. By adopting this policy, the council has taken an important and dignified step toward a more compassionate borough, and I’m grateful to colleagues for uniting behind this vital change.”
Toby North, Head of Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said:
“We applaud Barnet Council for removing this burden from those with a terminal illness, and the councils who have already committed to providing council tax relief for dying people. These councils continue to set a powerful precedent for compassionate local governance, showing that practical policy change is possible.
"We urge all councils across the country to follow suit and encourage those who have passed supportive motions to act swiftly on their commitments to make real change. No one should spend their final months worrying about bills."
Barnet’s decision follows increasing attention on the financial pressures faced by people who are terminally ill, particularly around housing costs and Council Tax bills.
Under the new criteria, Barnet residents may qualify for a Council Tax reduction if:
- they are liable for Council Tax
- they receive Council Tax Support
- they provide a Special Rules SR1 medical form, completed by a clinician confirming a terminal diagnosis.
The SR1 form is already used across the UK under the “Special Rules” process for people whose life expectancy is thought to be 12 months or less.
The new route does not exclude terminally ill residents who do not meet all three requirements. Instead, those individuals can still apply through the general CTDR application, where their circumstances will be considered holistically.