No plans to cut council tax for terminally ill people, says Council
Marie Curie want's tax breaks for people with a terminal illness
Wiltshire Council says it has no plans to change its support scheme for people living with a terminal illness in the county, despite pressure from a leading end of life charity.
Marie Curie wants all local authorities to exempt terminally ill people from paying council tax to make it 'one less worry' and is writing to councils calling for them to do so.
Becca Stacey, Marie Curie Senior Policy Manager for Financial Security, said: “A terminal diagnosis brings an end to normal life as people know it. It should not also bring increased financial hardship. But for more than one in six people who die in the UK each year, the last period of life is marked by financial difficulty. People are often no longer able to work, and can face rising costs for energy, transport and vital medical equipment. It can mean additional stress and social isolation at the worst possible time."
27 other authorities have taken the step, but Wiltshire is set to resist, saying it's already reviewed and updated its support scheme for terminally ill people.
Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Gavin Grant, said there is a support scheme in place where council tax is reduced and other financial support is available to people on low incomes.
He said: "We reviewed and updated our Council Tax Reduction Scheme from April 2026 and there are currently no plans to make further changes next year.
"People who are terminally ill may also be eligible for additional benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment through the fast-track Special Rules for End of Life process. This can increase the level of council tax support they receive and may help them access other forms of financial assistance."
Cllr Grant added that there is "discretionary support" for people facing financial hardship and that the authority will always seek to be "sympathetic and supportive" when handling council tax matters for people who are terminally ill.
"We remain committed to supporting vulnerable residents and helping ensure they can access the support available to them."