DLA and paying full rent and council tax is this right

pipkin71

sunnyone wrote: »

it can only be claimed under certain very defined rules which even discounted my ensuite because my husband uses it (or either of the kids if they are in my room with me)

I knew that if it was a room others used, the discount wouldn't apply, so an ensuite, as you have said, wouldn't apply.

I thought it was an exemption from paying council tax, so interesting that it's a reduction rather than exemption.

sunnyone

pipkin71 wrote: »

I knew that if it was a room others used, the discount wouldn't apply, so an ensuite, as you have said, wouldn't apply.

I thought it was an exemption from paying council tax, so interesting that it's a reduction rather than exemption.

If your in the lowest band its a reduction of 20% on the total amount of council tax payable (Im pretty certain thats the amount on my paperwork) so there is never nothing to pay pip.

pipkin71

sunnyone wrote: »

If your in the lowest band its a reduction of 20% on the total amount of council tax payable (Im pretty certain thats the amount on my paperwork) so there is never nothing to pay pip.

Thanks, sunnyone.

I read on here someone saying they paid nothing due to adaption, so it's always confusing when the wrong information is given out

cyberbob

pipkin71 wrote: »

I knew that if it was a room others used, the discount wouldn't apply, so an ensuite, as you have said, wouldn't apply.

As with all these things the rules aren't that simple.

The disabled band reduction scheme aims to ensure that disabled people do not pay more Council Tax because they live in a larger property than they would have needed if they were not disabled. Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a reduction.
In summary, the requirements for a reduction are that the property must be the main residence of at least one disabled person and it must have at least one of:

• an additional bathroom or kitchen required to meet the needs of the disabled person
• a room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) required to meet the needs of the disabled person, and used predominantly by them
• extra space inside the property to allow for the use of a wheelchair - wheelchairs for outdoor use only are excluded

The room or the wheelchair must also be essential or of major importance to the disabled person's well-being, due to the nature and extent of their disability.
'Disabled person' in this context means a person who is substantially and permanently disabled. The disabled person can be either an adult or a child and does not have to be responsible for paying the Council Tax bill.
An extra room does not need to have been specially built, but your home will not qualify for a reduction unless the 'essential or of major importance' test above is met. Simply rearranging rooms - for example, having a bedroom on the ground floor rather than the first floor - is unlikely to make your home eligible for a reduction.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/Taxreliefandreductions/DG_10026451

mum-of-3

pipkin71 wrote: »

I knew that if it was a room others used, the discount wouldn't apply, so an ensuite, as you have said, wouldn't apply.

I thought it was an exemption from paying council tax, so interesting that it's a reduction rather than exemption.

Money off council tax would be done by means testing but it would seem the working partner earns over the threshold for this.

I applied for the council tax reduction. We have a converted room downstairs as a bedroom and downstairs toilet, as I don't use the wheelchair in the house I do not qualify for the reduction.

sunnyone

mum-of-3 wrote: »

Money off council tax would be done by means testing but it would seem the working partner earns over the threshold for this.

I applied for the council tax reduction. We have a converted room downstairs as a bedroom and downstairs toilet, as I don't use the wheelchair in the house I do not qualify for the reduction.

Its not a means tested council tax reduction but a disabled council tax reduction and a downstairs bed room with a down stairs toilet that other people use dosnt count in the same way as my ensuite dosnt count, even though my husband has a diffrent bedroom and my ensuite is adapted for me.

My husband isnt working since he developed kidney failure last year and hes racking up one new illness a months so far (diviculitis this month :mad:) but we still dont recieve means tested benefits.

kingfisherblue

In our case, the wetroom was built to cater for my son's needs. It has a walk in shower and a closomat toilet that cleans and dries his bottom. Although it is primarily for my son's needs, I have been honest with the council as my other two children and myself use the room as well. The chap from the council who comes out to check elegibility for council tax benefit and fill in the forms had a look at the room last year. He said that he couldn't see a problem with the rest of the family using the room, and that as it has been built and equipped specifically with my son in mind, the disability reduction would still apply.

ShockingPink

I share a bedroom with my husband and we've built an ensuite because I need a shower and it's not possible to have one in the main bathroom. My husband doesn't use "my" bathroom - but he could if he wanted, I suppose - and we qualify for the reduction. Maybe it's subjective, and ultimately depends on where you live?

homealone_2

jac/norm wrote: »

Hi there, my husband gets high rate mobility and low care so we pay no council tax and very little rent even though my son and daughte who are both on very good salaries live here. It is not means tested and several other factors are taken into consideration when working out hb and ctb

this seems odd as my son has just left college and is on jobseekers allowance until he finds work and they said they were factoring into my benefit a contribution from my son of £7.24 a week rent and £3.76 a week council tax. have been told once he starts work the contribution then depending on his pay slips, which he has to supply will be anything from £7.24 to £45.50 a week?????

jacnorm

homealone wrote: »

this seems odd as my son has just left college and is on jobseekers allowance until he finds work and they said they were factoring into my benefit a contribution from my son of £7.24 a week rent and £3.76 a week council tax. have been told once he starts work the contribution then depending on his pay slips, which he has to supply will be anything from £7.24 to £45.50 a week?????

I queried this several times as I was sure they had made a mistake but, we have been getting the help with our rent and c/tax for 6years now. I was told it is because my husband gets the middle rate care and high rate mobility of dla. He gets IB and I get care allowance and my son and daughter both work as I have said with decent salaries, plus my son gets dla to help him with his mobility. I can understand that it does seem odd as I have said I did query it myself but, it was my husbands social worker who first advised us to claim as prior to them helping us we had always paid the full rent.