Councillors last year backed plans to make the terminally ill exempt from council tax
Plans to make the terminally ill exempt from council tax have been included in the council’s budget proposals (Image: PA)
End of life charity, Marie Curie, has welcomed Hull City Council‘s commitment to give council tax relief to those with a terminal illnesses. In November, councillors unanimously backed a Labour Group motion to make those with less than 12 month to live exempt from the tax.
With Marie Curie calling on councils to introduce such a policy, Manchester City Council last year became the first to bring in the measure. On the back of the motion in November, the plans for Hull City Council to follow suit have been included in the 2026/27 budget proposals.
The motion was brought forward by Labour’s Cllr Anna Thompson, who represents the Southcoates ward. During the November meeting, she told the chamber: “For those given a terminal diagnosis, life changes overnight. The focus shifts from plans for the future to managing pain, treatment, and most importantly, spending precious time with loved ones.”
Reacting to the news that the exemption has been included in the budget proposals, Cllr Thompson added: “I really welcome this commitment from Hull City Council. This shows compassion to many residents and their families, allowing them to focus on what truly matters. This won’t, of course, fix everything, but it’s a vital step to treating people with dignity when they need it most. I’m grateful to all council colleagues who have supported this initiative.”
The motion also received support from the council’s ruling Liberal Democrat Group. Commenting, Cllr Jack Haines, Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Policy Delivery and Communications, said: “We want Hull City Council to be a council that cares for local people. While we know finances are tough, this landmark policy will support many people right across the city.
“We know having a loved one diagnosed with a terminal illness can be heartbreaking. The pain families have to go through, the stress of arrangements that need to be made, and the feeling of loss hit families across Hull hard.
“We also know so many people rely on loved ones to provide care, so as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting residents, we are introducing a further step this year. We are removing council tax for people expected to have less than a year to live due to terminal illness, so that attention can remain on what matters most.
Hannah Drury, Public Affairs Officer at Marie Curie, said: “With a significant proportion of terminally ill people relying on benefits as their main source of income, council tax relief is a huge support for families facing financial hardship.
“We applaud Hull City Council for removing this burden from those with a terminal illness, and the councils who have already committed to providing council tax relief for dying people. These councils continue to set a powerful precedent for compassionate local governance, showing that practical policy change is possible.
“We urge all councils across the country to follow suit and encourage those who have passed supportive motions to act swiftly on their commitments to make real change. No one should spend their final months worrying about bills.”
The budget proposals will debated and voted on at a Full Council meeting on Thursday, February 26. The proposals also include a 4.99% council tax increase.
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