Council Tax / WTC advice

minimadtrix

I would be grateful if someone could help me with this - I'm not looking at dodging the system or anything like that, far from it, which is why I'm asking the question.

I've been offered a job 350 miles away from home - in an area which me and OH intend to move to. I own the property we currently live in and is is currently up for sale.

I work full time, OH is on IB, IIB, DLA and has a pension coming in of about £100 a month. We claim WTC.

When the job starts, I will be moving into permanent rented accommodation where I will be responsible for paying council tax. OH will remain in our property until it is sold.

Would I have to remove my name from the council tax bill as I will be living permanently elsewhere and paying council tax there, even though the house is in my name.

Will OH be able to claim CTB as he will be living there on his own. If he does, would we have to cancel our WTC claim or are we able to still claim WTC as we are still technically a couple, just living apart.

Thanks in advance

karenx

I would imagine you would have to end the WTC as you are both living at different ends of the country. Your OH can claim council tax benefit.

minimadtrix

Hmm, that's what I'm thinking Karenx - Thanks

themonkeybutler

You dont have to be living together to be considered a couple for tax credit purposes. Especially since you indicate this is a temporary seperation until your house is sold, you WILL still be a couple under TC rules.

minimadtrix

Thanks - that clears up the WTC side of things. I would assume from that then, that even though I'm going to be paying council tax in a different area , I'll still be responsible for council tax in this area too, as we will still be classed as a couple .... unless anyone knows different

themonkeybutler

Council tax is paid per property, not per couple. So if youre living in one place, and him another, there are two lots of council tax to pay. However, you do both get a discount as there will only be one person living in each place (i think it was 25% a few years ago - not sure if its changed).

minimadtrix

Yes, it's still 25% for a single person discount. However, the question now is, because OH is on benefits normally he would qualify for CTB as a single person, but because we're still claiming as a couple on WTC, would he be able to claim in his own right