Marie Curie has called for more councils in England to exempt terminally ill people from council tax. The charity has already secured commitments from 16 councils to drop the tax for people at the end of their lives, and hopes more will follow.Manchester City Council introduced council tax relief in the summer, followed by Barnsley, which brought in the change last month.Mr Jamie Thunder, senior policy manager at Marie Curie, said: “With a significant proportion of terminally ill people relying on benefits as their main source of income, council tax relief can be a huge support for families facing financial hardship.”We applaud Manchester City Council and Barnsley Council for leading the way.”Councils in Bristol, Salford and Preston have also made commitments, with schemes expected to go live soon in those areas.Marie Curie said 11 more councils have passed supportive motions to explore introducing a dedicated relief policy.These include councils in Newcastle, Wakefield, Wirral, Pendle, Newark and Sherwood, South Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes, Blackburn with Darwen, Liverpool, Burnley and Sheffield.The charity now wants these councils to implement the changes soon and encourages others to follow | GETTYThe charity now wants these councils to implement the changes soon and encourages others to follow.Marie Curie said an estimated 111,000 people die in poverty every year in the UK.A terminal diagnosis can have a profound financial impact on households, often through lost income and increased energy costs, it added.Mr Thunder said: “These councils have set a powerful precedent for compassionate local governance, showing that practical policy change is possible.A terminal diagnosis can have a profound financial impact on households | Getty”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.”Cllr Robert Frost said: “At Barnsley Council, we’re committed to supporting residents when they need it the most.”We’re proud of our council tax support schemes and the assistance we have in place for people that are experiencing financial hardship.”The Councillor said that the council recognises the emotional and financial strain families face when a loved one is nearing the end of life due to terminal illness.”We hope that awarding the 100 per cent council tax reduction will help to remove some pressure from households during these extremely difficult times,” he added.”As a council, we feel this is the right thing to do.”Most adults aged 18 or over are liable for Council Tax, with bills typically based on two adults per household.Manchester city council have been credited for leading the way | GETTYCertain individuals are already ‘disregarded’ for Council Tax purposes, including full-time students, student nurses, apprentices, and those under 18.If all residents are disregarded, households can receive a 50 per cent discount; if only one adult is counted, the discount is 25 per cent.Live-in carers, people with severe mental impairment, and foreign language assistants may also qualify for exemption.Eligible individuals must apply through their local council and may need to provide supporting documents, such as employer declarations for apprentices.The Local Government Association has been contacted for comment.