Cyndi D'souza, a 58-year-old woman from Carlisle with terminal blood cancer, is advocating for local authorities to exempt terminally ill individuals from council tax. Ms D'souza, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in October 2025 and also has systemic mastocytosis, has been told she has a year or two left to live.
She argues that there should not be a "postcode lottery" regarding council tax relief for those nearing the end of life. While some areas, including Manchester, Liverpool, and Gateshead, offer exemptions based on an SR1 medical report, Ms D'souza stated this is not the case in Cumberland.
Local authorities have the discretionary power to grant a 100% council tax discount to terminally ill people with less than 12 months to live, a measure adopted by 30 councils. Cumberland Council noted that its council tax reduction scheme provides support for residents on low incomes, potentially offering up to a 100% reduction in liability. Westmorland and Furness Council indicated it may consider a council tax discount for terminally ill people in the future.
Labour councillor Jeanette Whalen plans to ask the council to review and adopt a full council tax exemption for terminally ill residents for the 2027/28 financial year.