Council tax discount?

Gemsie

I'm hoping someone knowledgeable will be able to help me here!

Basically, I'm on a full time taught MSc course at Exeter Uni. The lectures have finished, and I no longer need to be in Cornwall (I was based on the Tremough campus) so I moved back home as I thought it pointless paying for two places.

After Christmas, there is a field trip abroad, then a number of days when I need to be back in Cornwall during February. Other than that, I will just be doing my project (helpfully based on a rare species near to my home).

I have applied for the student discount on the council tax (25% as I live with a non-student) but they have written back to me informing me that as I am "studying a thesis and not attending the University of Exeter, no further discount can be applied".

Is this right? I cannot work as I am doing my project/travelling back and forth and I'm still a full time student so surely I should be entitled to a discount?

MrsManda

Do you have a letter from your university to say that you are a full time student with the date this ends?

Who counts as a full-time student for Council Tax purposes?

You’ll usually be considered a full-time student for Council Tax purposes if:

• you are enrolled to attend a course of education lasting for at least one academic or calendar year - and which you are normally required to attend for at least 24 weeks out of the year and study for at least 21 hours per week during term time

Applying for a student discount

To get a student discount on your household’s Council Tax, you’ll normally need an official letter from your college or university giving details about you and your course.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/LifeAtUniversityOrCollege/DG_071488

Gemsie

Yep, I got the letter that says I'm a full time student until September 2011, and sent that to the council. Then I receive a reply telling me I'm not eligible!

Becciboobah

Some councils will not give the discount in what they call a 'writing up' period, i.e. you are not actually attending lectures but writing thesis' etc. It isn't all councils but some will not give the discount once the 'course' has finished in their eyes. This may not be the case with Exeter and it may just be a mistake but be aware that some make this distinction. It totally sucks and the NUS are making a case for it.
http://www.npc.org.uk/campaigns/PostgraduateCouncilTax.pdf

Gemsie

Becciboobah wrote: »

Some councils will not give the discount in what they call a 'writing up' period, i.e. you are not actually attending lectures but writing thesis' etc. It isn't all councils but some will not give the discount once the 'course' has finished in their eyes. This may not be the case with Exeter and it may just be a mistake but be aware that some make this distinction. It totally sucks and the NUS are making a case for it.
http://www.npc.org.uk/campaigns/PostgraduateCouncilTax.pdf

I just wanted to thank you for linking to that pdf. It's absolutely shocking! It never occurred to me that they could deny me a discount

CIS

If you do not have to attend the uni then you don't meet the requirements of a full time student. About 2 yrs or so ago there was a high court case which found that the requirement to attend was essential - this isn't discretionary, its a legal requirement that the council applies this to their student determinations.

Point 24 of this hearing:
http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2008/2531.html&query=council+and+tax+and+phd&method=boolean

Gemsie

CIS wrote: »

If you do not have to attend the uni then you don't meet the requirements of a full time student. About 2 yrs or so ago there was a high court case which found that the requirement to attend was essential - this isn't discretionary, its a legal requirement that the council applies this to their student determinations.

Point 24 of this hearing:
http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2008/2531.html&query=council+and+tax+and+phd&method=boolean

Thanks very much for the link. I appreciate it. The whole situation is just ridiculous. All full time students are being forced into a catch 22 situation. I'm paying thousands to complete this degree, which is of course my own decision, but I really am coming to the conclusion that packing it all in, having multiple children and skiving my way through life is possibly the best way to go! I'm so poor, it's unbelievable and I'm really rather irritated....:mad:

melancholly

Gemsie wrote: »

Thanks very much for the link. I appreciate it. The whole situation is just ridiculous. All full time students are being forced into a catch 22 situation. I'm paying thousands to complete this degree, which is of course my own decision, but I really am coming to the conclusion that packing it all in, having multiple children and skiving my way through life is possibly the best way to go! I'm so poor, it's unbelievable and I'm really rather irritated....:mad:

breathe! having kids won't help much any more though with the child tax credits situation. probably best to do what you can to get qualified and experienced in a career

i think your council is being ridiculous and that you're unlucky.... lots of people are full time phd students in arts subjects that mean that they barely have to go into university and they still count as full time students.

have you tried calling them up, just in case speaking to a real person helps things?