LTOT users
Posted , 3 users are following.
On my recent forays into the copd jungle, I came across a few items posted by LTOT users that I felt may be of use to others. As I am not yet in that position myself it may be that I am 'teaching grandmother to suck eggs', all the same, there may be folks for who the following is of use.
If you are on LTOT and have your equipment stored in a spare bedroom eg your noisy oxygen concentrator, tanks and equipment etc you are entitled to a reduction in council tax charges. You should be taxed at one band lower than your current one, or if you are currently taxed at the lowest band they will still reduce it further. Some councils will also backdate claims to when you first had oxygen installed so it is worth trying for that too, (they're not going to tell you unless you ask and the worse they can do is say no. I think minor details vary from council to council). Remember, the qualifying factor is that the room is used for storing your equipment and therefore it is not suitable for use as a bedroom any more. You can't claim if you have stored it in a bathroom /hallway etc. I think you have to fill in a form, and they do send someone just to look in the room and verify that you do indeed store either oxygen or its equipment ie concentrator in there, and thats pretty much it from what I can gather.
If anyone has done this or has more info on this or anything similar, please do comment as we all need both knowledge and encouragement in these things. Don't just assume that because you know of or are benefiting from something, then everybody else does too. These things are not usually advertised, and contrary to public opinion, most benefits and entitlements are grossly underclaimed.
While this info is currently of no use for me as I am not on oxygen, I do hope it is of benefit to someone. Vanessa
0 likes, 10 replies
Tessa
Posted
Jacee
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jacee
Jacee
Posted
What they don't realise is that I now have heard (thanks to vanessalee) and will be investigating further. :wink:
Will keep you posted.
Jacee
Van
Posted
* Disabled Reduction - \"Where a property has been adapted to suit the needs of a disabled person \".
Then further down the page was:
Disabled Reduction
To qualify for a reduction your home must contain either :
* A room used mainly for meeting the needs of the disabled person FOR EXAMPLE an extension - OR - extra room used for storing dialysis equipment or wheelchairs.\"
Well I am assuming this is what the other lady was talking about. I must admit when I first started reading it my heart sank as it was initially phrased as though only especially adapted properties would qualify, but as I looked further down the page under the sub heading and read the example that included storing wheelchairs I realized that was it. I think they hope people won't see it as they are already so broke after investing their money with Icelandic banks!
Anyway it said to fill out an application form and if awarded you would get the reduction on your next council tax bill, plus backdated reduction to the date of your application.
Whether the availability or terms of this varies between councils, I don't know, but as we're coming round to council tax time , I think it is well worth looking into and having as there are some folks with councils doing this for having your oxygen concentrator in a separate bedroom already.
Good Luck with it, Vanessa
Jacee
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Jacee
Van
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Vanessa
Jacee
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Tessa
Posted
Well done you. How quick was that?
Might apply for a form myself.
Tessa
Jacee
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Van
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