Terminally ill Preston residents to be spared council tax

Terminally ill residents in the Preston City Council area will no longer have to pay council tax.

The authority has opted to continue with a policy that was first introduced as part of a wider household support package last year.

It says the move, approved using the council’s discretionary powers, will provide “vital financial relief to households during an exceptionally difficult time” .

The scheme means that households will receive a ‘100 per cent discount’ on their council tax bill if the resident who would ordinarily have been liable to pay it - or their partner or a dependent under the age of 18 who lives at the property - has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Preston’s decision follows calls from end-of-life charity Marie Curie for greater financial support for people nearing the end of life - to which several other local authorities across England have already responded.

Matthew Brown, the Labour leader of Preston City Council, said: “We understand that a terminal diagnosis is devastating for anyone and their loved ones.

“This policy reflects our commitment to compassion and fairness. No one should have to worry about paying council tax at such a challenging time.

“By using our discretionary powers, we are ensuring meaningful and practical support is available when residents need it most.”

The city council set aside £45,000 for the exemption between October 2025 and and March 2026, but will now continue to fund it for the full 2026/27 financial year. The policy will be reviewed annually.

Evidence from Marie Curie highlights the significance of council tax support for the estimated 280 people dying in poverty every day in the UK. A recent report by the organisation revealed the financial pressures faced by terminally ill people, whose income often falls as they near the end of their life, while costs - such as heating, energy use for medical equipment, and travel, all rise.

Toby North, Head of Public Affairs at Marie Curie, welcomed the Preston City Council’s introduction of an exemption for the dying. He said: “The end of life should be a time to focus on what really matters - but for too many people, it’s dominated by financial difficulty as their income drops and costs associated with a terminal illness rise.

“We’re delighted that Preston City Council is among some of the first in the country to provide specific support with council tax to people facing a terminal illness. We now urgently need more councils to adopt a similar approach, to help more people live out their last months, weeks, and days without needing to worry about their bills.

“We hope to expand our campaign further, with more councils across England following suit to ease the financial burden on people at the end of life.”

To access the discount, applicants are required to ask their registered medical practitioner to provide an SR1 form directly to the [email protected] mailbox, confirming a terminal diagnosis. Applications are now open, eligible residents or their representatives can find out more information and apply online via the Preston City Council website.