Claiming benefits and Armed Forces

Hi All,

My OH is serving and we recently found that we are entitled to full housing benefit and a full discount on council tax. I assume that with the housing benefit we just fill in the forms at the council offices, but council tax is a bit different. I have followed the threads about Ops and CILOCT but I wondered if anyone has claimed for a full discount? if so who do we need to go to. Any advice would be great. Particularly from anyone who has tried to claim either.

Thanks in advance :)
«13

Replies

  • spinksspinks Forumite
    295 Posts
    I am not sure of any reason you would be entitled to full housing beenfit or council tax discount.

    You say you recently found that you are entitled to these so can the people you found this information from not advise you?
  • helseehelsee Forumite
    119 Posts
    theres no way a serving family is entitled to full housing benefit.......surely? Are you in MQ?
  • EmmEveEmmEve Forumite
    260 Posts
    I can't imagine anyone serving would have a low enough wage to be entitled to full housing and council tax benefit.

    CILOCT is only be relevent to those in MQ's and is processed automatically along with their tax NI etc so no there is no need to 'claim' the reduction. The refund when on ops is also done automatically for those in MQ's.
  • domedome Forumite
    6 Posts
    Part of the Furniture First Post Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    The council tax discount is 50% and its because all service persons pay CILOCT(Charge in Lieu of Council Tax). This applies if in MQ or SLA. I can 100% confirm this as I do it.

    I got the info about 2 years ago off of moneysavingexpert site, so it is about but all my links and history are a long time gone.

    dome
  • Andy_LAndy_L Forumite
    12.5K Posts
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    dome wrote: »
    The council tax discount is 50% and its because all service persons pay CILOCT(Charge in Lieu of Council Tax). This applies if in MQ or SLA. I can 100% confirm this as I do it.

    eh? If you're in MQ/SLA you don't pay council tax at all - you pay CILOCT, the clue being in the "Charge in lieu of council tax" name
  • domedome Forumite
    6 Posts
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    Andy_L wrote: »
    eh? If you're in MQ/SLA you don't pay council tax at all - you pay CILOCT, the clue being in the "Charge in lieu of council tax" name

    is that not what i wrote?
  • The original post doesn't really make it clear whether they live in MQs or their own house. Even still, a Pte just out of training and renting their own property would be earning too much for LHA, I would think. Housing benefit is for council house tenants, I believe.
    From Starrystarrynight to Starrystarrynight1 and now I'm back...don't have a clue how!
  • helseehelsee Forumite
    119 Posts
    dome wrote: »
    The council tax discount is 50% and its because all service persons pay CILOCT(Charge in Lieu of Council Tax). This applies if in MQ or SLA. I can 100% confirm this as I do it.

    I got the info about 2 years ago off of moneysavingexpert site, so it is about but all my links and history are a long time gone.

    dome

    so im in mq's now am i effectively paying half the council tax of civvi households in the same area? the CILOCT i pay is with a reduction already? just curious as to how it works never really thought about it before!
  • helseehelsee Forumite
    119 Posts
    BLT wrote: »
    Go for it, I can't imagine its a lot of fun working in the housing offices, and when you go in to try and claim housing benefit on the 120 pounds a month you pay for your MQ it should give them a good chuckle :rotfl:

    wouldnt it actually depend on income rather than how much the rent is as to wether someone would be entitled though? so how cheap or not quarters are isnt really he issue.
  • CISCIS Forumite
    12.3K Posts
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    Forumite
    The council tax discount is 50% and its because all service persons pay CILOCT(Charge in Lieu of Council Tax). This applies if in MQ or SLA. I can 100% confirm this as I do it.

    A 50% discount applies to a second home where you need to have that home in order to undertake your job and you need to be liable for the council tax on both properties (CILOCT is not council tax).

    Wales was looking counting CILOCT as council tax for discount purposes but I dont know if they introduced it or not.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
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