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Disabled Person's Allowance

If you are, or someone else in your household is, a person with a disability, you may be entitled to a reduction of 25% in your domestic rate bill, through the Disabled Persons Allowance scheme.

This allowance is not means tested . Therefore you do not need to provide information about your income and savings to be eligible.

It is an entitlement to a 25% reduction in rates for any household where:

  • a person with a disability lives; and
  • where the property has been adapted or has additional facilities added.

There must be a clear link between how the property has been adapted and the disability or the Disabled Person’s Allowance will not be paid.

Criteria for adaptations

The property must be adapted to meet the needs of a person with a disability who lives in your home.

The types of adaptations that qualify are: –

  • a room, other than a kitchen, bathroom or toilet, which is mainly used by the person with a disability for treatment or therapy.
  • an extra kitchen for the person with a disability;
  • an extra toilet for the person with a disability;
  • an extra bathroom; or
  • sufficient floor space to use a wheelchair easily.

How to apply

To apply, the person who pays rates on the property must submit an application form. You can download this form it using the attached link:

You can also get the form by:

  • calling the LPS helpline on 101, minicom 18001101 (the alternative number for those calling from outside Northern Ireland or who are unable to access the 101 service is 02891 513101)
  • calling LPS Housing Benefit on freephone 0800 5877 477
  • e-mail: housingbenefit.rating@lpsni.gov.uk
  • fax on 028 9025 2639

Or by writing to:

Land & Property Services,
Housing Benefit Central Unit
Londonderry House
21-27 Chichester Street
T0WN PARKS
Belfast
BT1 4JB

Information required for the application form

The following supplementary information will be requested:

  • some information about the disability along with any supporting medical evidence you have;
  • Land & Property Services will also ask the person with a disability to give them permission to contact (if necessary) their GP or health professional; and
  • details of the adaptations that have been made to your home.

Home visit

A member of the Disabled Person's Allowance team may visit your property to see how it has been adapted. Please tell LPS on the application form if you would like an interpreter to be present during the visit to the property.

Important Information

If you apply for help, you must still pay your rate bill while your application is being assessed. If your application is successful  LPS will refund the amount you have overpaid or credit the amount due to your account.