Getting Single Person Discount (25%) on C Tax Arrears?

BungleGirl

My friend called our council yesterday as he realised that he wasn't getting the 25% single occupancy discount on his council tax. They have applied it for the current year but the said that they are only able to backdate it by 52 weeks so they won't take it off of his arrears.

I just wondered whether it is worth trying to push them to take it off of the arrears or whether the 52 weeks is a hard and fast rule. Has anyoen had any experience of this?

BungleGirl

I think I've found the answer....

1. Discounts and Reductions
If you live alone you can claim a discount of 25 per cent off your council tax. Even if you don't live completely alone you may get the discount because some people are invisible when it comes to council tax. The proper name is 'disregarded persons' and they include
· Anyone at school (or just left school)
· Full time students (including student nurses)
· Apprentices and youth training trainees
· Some carers (but not if they look after their spouse or partner or their child under 18)
· People who are severely mentally impaired
There are other categories of invisibles including diplomats, foreign soldiers, prisoners and so on but they are not likely to be living with you.
If you live alone - or the only other people in your home are invisibles - then your council tax is cut by 25%. This reduction can be backdated as far back as you can prove you lived there alone.

Info taken from http://www.saga.co.uk/money/taxandbenefits/counciltax2.asp

I've emailed the details to my friend and told him to call the council back and ask for it to be backdated - I'm really hoping they will do it as it will make a huge difference to the amount that he owes in arrears and he would then be able to pay off what is left in a couple of months!

BungleGirl

I emailed the council querying their policy on only backdating council tax discount by a maximum of 52 weeks and stated the legal stuff that I found on the internet and they replied saying:-

The Discount can only be backdated 52 weeks but if the customer appeals against the decision this will be considered by management to be backdated further.

I actually think that is a bit naughty as my initial email asked how far it would be backdated and I was told 52 weeks, when I quoted thelegal stuff they told me the above. It makes me wonder how many people in my area have just accepted the 52 weeks without knowing that they could appeal and get it backdated further! By law they have to backdate it to the time that you became eligable which could be as far back as 1993 (?) when council tax was introduced!

I'm feeling inclined to try to get something in my local paper as surely that would be the best way to let people know that they can appeal. The way things are at the moment I'm hinking that some people could benefit greatly fro this infomation.