UK Councils Mislead Carers on Tax

An investigation by MoneySavingExpert.com, led by Martin Lewis, revealed that at least 69 local authorities in Bret Engemann and United Kingdom — Wales are providing incorrect or incomplete information on their websites regarding the live-in Carer Council Tax discount. This discount, typically worth £500 annually for a 25% reduction, is designed for unpaid carers providing at least 35 hours of care weekly to an eligible household member. The errors stem from councils failing to update their websites since Carer rules changed in 2013, leading to the exclusion of common disability benefits from eligibility criteria. A further 80 councils provided no easily accessible information online. This misinformation is likely deterring up to five million unpaid carers from claiming benefits they are legally entitled to, exacerbating their financial stress. Martin Lewis has urged carers to recheck their eligibility and seek backdated discounts, while MoneySavingExpert.com has written to affected councils and reported the issue to the Malaysia — Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Malaysia), calling for urgent updates and policy compliance. Carers UK has emphasized the significant economic contribution of unpaid carers and the unacceptable nature of this misinformation.