Council tax benefit... how is it caluclated?

patricia50

I have found the MSE forum to be really helpful on all sorts of subjects but when it comes to subjects like Benefits everyone has an opinion and seems very judgemental about peoples circumstances. I've been reading lots of posts lately on benefits because its relevant to my situation and people can seem very rude at times and even seem to almost interrogate some posters on the truth of their posts. Sometimes we post things on here because we are worried and just need to vent our frustrations with the system or just want to talk to someone uninvolved, but my personal experience in the last few days has made me realise this is not the place for me. People seem to think if you are claiming any sort of benefit you are almost certain to be lying in some aspect or getting money you shouldn't, or trying to get money you shouldn't. We are not all dishonest scroungers!

real1314

patricia50 wrote: »

I have found the MSE forum to be really helpful on all sorts of subjects but when it comes to subjects like Benefits everyone has an opinion and seems very judgemental about peoples circumstances. I've been reading lots of posts lately on benefits because its relevant to my situation and people can seem very rude at times and even seem to almost interrogate some posters on the truth of their posts. Sometimes we post things on here because we are worried and just need to vent our frustrations with the system or just want to talk to someone uninvolved, but my personal experience in the last few days has made me realise this is not the place for me. People seem to think if you are claiming any sort of benefit you are almost certain to be lying in some aspect or getting money you shouldn't, or trying to get money you shouldn't. We are not all dishonest scroungers!

No-one has been judgemental. It's just that the answer you want is not available. I can't see where anyone has sugested you are lying, I feel you are being rather unfair.
Venting your frustration at the system is one things, attacking people who are giving direct, relevant, factual advice is another.

It's the same situation for almost all separated parents who don't have custody.
The have to pay maintenance (directly, buying stuff for the kids and anything else), yet the payment is still treated as their income and benefits treat them as having their full income.

Unfair? A matter of opinion. Is it part of the rules? Yes - a matter of fact. :cool:

Macro_3

patricia50 wrote: »

In answer to your three options remark. Do you realise that to have a private let she would be hard pushed to rent a one bedroom. The children are a boy and girl aged 9 and fifteen and should not be sharing a room. If she paid the non dependant deduction of £60.60 that would leave £37.00 from my jobseekers £60.00 to pay. Yes maybe if I dont eat I may manage! As for returning to the marital homethat is not even an option!!! And what do you mean "with or without the children"

Firstly, let me say that there is no judgement in my posts.
I realise that your daughter is in a very difficult position and, frankly, there but for the grace of god go I. So to reply in such a defensive and aggressive tone is really not needed. I'm only tryiing to help.

I realise only too well that she could probably not afford a private let given her financial situatiion - if she cannot afford the non-dependent deduction, it's certain she wouldn't afford to rent somewhere. That was my point, really. The benefits system is there to support you whilst out of work, not your working daughter. You would undoubtedly choose to support her financially if you were working and able to do so, as her mom, but non-dependent deductions are designed to prevent you doing that whilst you are relying on benefits. Otherwise, the housing benefits system would effectively be subsidising her living costs.

The benefits system for single childless people such as yourself is harsh - you are left with £28 JSA plus your private pension after rent is paid, which seems very little to live on, I agree, but it's not unusual.

When I said with/without the children, I meant that she might be able to look at renting somewhere for both her and the children privately if her long term plan is to regain custody. Depending on the area you live in and the demand for social housing within the area, she could wait years for housing though HA's/the council, and there are no guarantees that she would be given somewhere suitable for the whole family if she does not have custody.If she is able to find a private let for her and her children and they were to move back in with her, she would no longer be liable for maintenance, and might be able to receive maintenenance herself, child tax credits, child benefit and perhaps housing benefit in her own right. She would still be liable for the mortgage if it is joint, but it might be viable for her financially. Most importantly, she would be reunited with her children.

If her plan is to have shared custody long-term, even if she has the children for 50% of the time she would still have to pay maintenance and the mortgage, and would not be able to claim CTC/child benefit unless by agreement with the other parent. It still might not be possible financially, even with cheaper social housing.

I realise that returning to the marital home might not be an option if the split has not been amicable, but it would have solved a number of her problems - travel, accomodation costs and access to the children would ahve been easier.

I still beleive that she should seek expert legal/financial advice asap, to explore her options.

Macro_3

patricia50 wrote: »

I have found the MSE forum to be really helpful on all sorts of subjects but when it comes to subjects like Benefits everyone has an opinion and seems very judgemental about peoples circumstances. I've been reading lots of posts lately on benefits because its relevant to my situation and people can seem very rude at times and even seem to almost interrogate some posters on the truth of their posts. Sometimes we post things on here because we are worried and just need to vent our frustrations with the system or just want to talk to someone uninvolved, but my personal experience in the last few days has made me realise this is not the place for me. People seem to think if you are claiming any sort of benefit you are almost certain to be lying in some aspect or getting money you shouldn't, or trying to get money you shouldn't. We are not all dishonest scroungers!

That's a little unfair. I think that the majority of people who work within the benefits system/ frequent these boards are acutely aware of the shortcomings of the system and realise that the majority of claimants are honest. Yes, there are some people here who have the attitude to claimants that you have described, but they are a minority. They are certainly outnumbered by the number of claimants on here who seem to beleive that anyone who works within the benefits system is lazy/incompetent/seeks not to pay benefit wherever possible/is rude and unsympathetic/and either enjoys refusing claims or receives bonuses for doing so etc etc.

patricia50

I certainly deny being in any way aggressive as that is just not in my nature. I was probably venting a little as to be quite honest I feel sick to the pit of my stomache with worry at the moment. I apologuise if I offended anyone and I wont be posting again as I feel worse now than before if thats possible.

joe65

How exactly do council work out if your entitled to council tax benefit, I wish it was easier, I applied in march, in real fincial difficulties, and I told the council, of my wages every 4 weeks, out of £600-£700

£210 goes to my mortgage
£200 to my debt plan
£50 to insurance
£60 to scot power
Tax credit used for groceries

But the real annoying thing, my income for Jan - May was £500, I was of work alot because I was unwell, and no way could I afford my council tax bill, council benefit office knew of this, but I was awarded no council tax benefit

And right now, it looks like my council tax payment are going to be added to my debt & payment plan

Marisco

If you nip over to the DFW (debt free wanabee) board, and put up a SOA (statement of affairs) the folks there will be able to help you cut your outgoings, they are very helpful and give good advice.

WhiteHorse

Use an online benefit calculator. Quite a few councils have them on their websites. There are others elsewhere too.

real1314

joe65 wrote: »

How exactly do council work out if your entitled to council tax benefit, I wish it was easier, I applied in march, in real fincial difficulties, and I told the council, of my wages every 4 weeks, out of £600-£700

£210 goes to my mortgage They can't allow anything for that
£200 to my debt plan or that
£50 to insurance or that
£60 to scot power or that
Tax credit used for groceries

But the real annoying thing, my income for Jan - May was £500, I was of work alot because I was unwell, and no way could I afford my council tax bill, council benefit office knew of this, but I was awarded no council tax benefit

And right now, it looks like my council tax payment are going to be added to my debt & payment plan

Assuming you're a single person over 25, they allow you about £80 a week (You should be able to check this amount with them). Anything over that is tapered at 20% and the result is deducted from your weekly C-Tax to leave an amount that can be paid as CTB.

e.g Weekly Council Tax £20
Income £80
Leaves £0 after £80 allowance, so full CTB of £20, nothing to pay.

Income £100
Leaves £20 after £80 allowance, x 20% = £4 taken from £20, leaves £16 CTB and £4 for housholder to pay

Income £120
£40 left x 20% = £8
£12 CTB ; £8 for housholder to pay

Income £150
£70 left x 20% = £14
£6 CTB ; £14 for householder to pay.


So if you have £700 monthly, roughly £160 weekly, based on the above assumptions of £20 weekly Council Tax, you'd get £4 a week in CTB. :cool: