Council Tax Benefit and Back Pay of Tax Credits

ndeppy

Ive been on the Entitled to website several times to find out exactly what im entitled to ? Good job i did because we was only receiving £10.56 a week tax credits and should have been receiving £120.18 !! BIG DIFFERENCE !! Were due the backpay over £2000 but have to wait until the end of the tax year !! has this happened to anyone else ?? It also said on the entitled to website we shouldnt be paying council tax because were on such a low income !! However NORTH LINCS COUNCIL say NO we have to pay it whose right ?? anyone know ?? (our gross yearly income is £12000 maybe a bit less!) i feel really pi**ed off because were struggling to pay our bills inc council tax so if its true we shouldnt be paying it then WHY do the council say otherwise ?? .:mad:

karenx

Entitledto is only a rough guide and you should never take the exact figures as being true. Is the £120 working tax credits and child tax credits?

codwidow

Our income is approx 16/17k and we get about £92 Child Tax credits and £19 working tax credits per week so that does sound about right.

Dont know about the Council tax help though I have never asked I might do now

ankspon

I was told i was entitled to £107 per week on the phone to tax credits,on the calculator i was entitled to £7,still waiting to find out

ndeppy

karenx wrote: »

Entitledto is only a rough guide and you should never take the exact figures as being true. Is the £120 working tax credits and child tax credits?

Yes that is child tax credit and working tax credit together and our total income is my wage and my husbands army pension.

karenx

Is your tax credit award based on last years income? Is that income higher than your income just now?

fluffymovie

Hi there

I would always say ask the council and speak to a person if possible.

Most people who work in the council know their jobs well and can take into account all your income, make the appopriate deductions etc.

If you go onto your council website, they should have a benefit calculator as well so you can put your figures into that and it will tell you if you would qualify.

OrkneyStar

Why don't you think you should have to pay council tax on £12000 ?
As far as I am aware on that income it would be full council tax, or only a slight discount (unless there are other benefits such as DLA, which can change the amount you are expected to pay!). Council tax benefit is for people with very low incomes!
Our income is not much more than yours and our tax credits are a bit less- maybe because we have only 1 child- and we are not entitled to any council tax benefit. Council tax should be next on the list of priority payments after rent/mortgage, before food, utilities, and any other bill such as credit cards etc!
Have you debts ? If so get over to the debt free wanabee boards, and for general tips on lowering your grocery spending etc, then the Old Style board.
Of course check, check and double check with the council, but don't be shocked if they come back saying you should be paying it all yourselves!

MrsAnnie

What does your tax credit award state? Are your circumstances different than those on the award letter?

mummyf

we are on slightly lower income than you, with only one wage coming in, we have 2 kids and are entiled to ctc & wtc. We live in rented property and are entiled to a % of our rent (even though most of it we have to pay), we live in a part of the country that is high rentals we are also able to claim a % of our council tax bill. It is entirely wage and benefit depending. You need to get a form from the local council which is about a mile long, fill it in and let them make the decision. I dont know if it depends where you live in the country, it probably does for the rental side not sure about the council tax.

Benefits system is a total night mare!!! And yes I would say you can claim based on a wage o £12,000, i know exactly where your coming from.

OrkneyStar

mummyf wrote: »

we are on slightly lower income than you, with only one wage coming in, we have 2 kids and are entiled to ctc & wtc. We live in rented property and are entiled to a % of our rent (even though most of it we have to pay), we live in a part of the country that is high rentals we are also able to claim a % of our council tax bill. It is entirely wage and benefit depending. You need to get a form from the local council which is about a mile long, fill it in and let them make the decision. I dont know if it depends where you live in the country, it probably does for the rental side not sure about the council tax.

Benefits system is a total night mare!!! And yes I would say you can claim based on a wage o £12,000, i know exactly where your coming from.

It must be area dependent too then, we have a similar income, less tax credits (1 child) and we are not entitled to any council tax benefit, nor would I expect to be!
£12000, with CTC and WTC is plenty for a family to survive on if they budget properly!