Council Tax Query for Forces Wives

footballwidow75

Just wondered if anyone could help me out with this query.
Ive heard that some councils offer single persons discount on council tax for poeple who's partners are serving members of the Armed Forces. I have written to my Council and they reckon im not eligable so I just wondered if all councils were the same.

Heres Hoping!!!!

debtfreein2009

Hi Footy

I believe that no council will offer a discount, whilst you're living in quarters. This becuase you don't actually pay council to the local council. Your hubbie makes a payment in lieu of council tax which is taken directly from his pay. The mod take an average cost of council tax, number of properties used as married quater and a couple of other factors and get a magic figure which everyone pays. I think the only way you may get a discount is if you're living in your own home or private let. However, be wary, as whilst on detachment your hubbies home address remains the same and it's still his main place of residence.

footballwidow75

Apologies - didnt explain properly.

Hubby is based in Ireland & he pays food & accomodation for this. I don't live on barracks. He is not registered with any doctor or dentist where our house is, and due to the fact that im lucky if i see him twice a month, we class Ireland as his main residence!!

Miss_Liquorice

Would you not then be eligible for a single person's discount? Rather than because he is in the forces, but rather because he simply isn't officially living there?

EmmEve

hmm from what i've heard it depends on your council! I know someone who did married unacompanied and their oh was serving abroad so only home once a mth or so but she couldn't get a discount. I think where they are registered to vote from and whose name is on the bills etc might have something to do with it too but not sure.

Fliss_M

I suspect it has to do with where he is registered to vote as to if he lives there. If you remove his name and get him registered at his barracks that should help.

footballwidow75

We had an electoral role form to fill in the other day, and neither of us are actually registered here at the moment as we only moved into the property @ xmas! I have written a few times to our local council and I am currently waiting for a response!
Thanks to all those who replied - I will let you know how I get on and then maybe if im lucky I can spread the word and many more people will benefit.

Trying_to_be_good

If he claims ANYTHING for getting home to see you, your home will be classed as his home - if he genuinely lives in Ireland, is paying single (i.e. not married) charges and received nothing from MOD towards his travel back to you, you can claim the single person's discount. But you usually save more money by paying married unaccompanied accommodation/food charges and getting GYH allowances than you save in 25% council tax.

Do let us know how you get on!

footballwidow75

The Army provide 12 flights per year, im pretty sure this applies to everyone, however, if my oh does get a wkend off he pays for his own flights and as far as im aware there is no option to claim this back.
I will ask about that one!!

Xh2oX

Quite interested in this thread.....my oh has been working away for the last 18 months ...other end of the country and yes he gets paid get you home pay or whatever that is called now.....out of that we have to pay for all flights.

TBH unless you book them really early (how many forces blokes know in advance where/what they will be doing) then the flights are not cheap and this allowance does not really cover the cost lol!!!

Also know that yes if I wanted to be there with him then yes they will provide housing .... yep we all know about that lol.... but we have our own home and a teenager in exam years plus my job so not really possible!!

Would love it if the mod would give my oh a flight a month home!! More than what we can afford at the mo!!!

Good luck though and keep us posted.

OliveOil71

Hi
Sorry to jump on your thread, but it has made me think of another question. What if hubby goes to Afgan for 6 months will the council give a discount then?