Council Tax

lauren8125

Any advice would be appreciated....I have got in a right mess with my Council Tax, up to the end of March I owed £1900 in Council Tax which I was paying back at £30 per week, since I received my new council tax bill i have continued to pay the £30 per week but today i have received a notice to pay the £220 i owe for this year within 7 days. I am going to go down there and talk to them on Tuesday but what can they do because I can just about afford the £30 a month.

CIS

If you cannot pay the current year then the council will proceed with issuing a Court Summons and obtaining a Liability Order.

Once they get the order then it will depend on how they wish to proceed.

Personally I would want a full income & expenditure statement before I would commit to any arrangement. How much do you owe in total from each year ?

lauren8125

But I have been paying this year but they have taken what i have paid off the arrears not my council tax for this year, i owe about £1800 in total

real1314

How much is your council tax for this year?

If it's £220 for April and May, then £30 a week would only leave £20 a month to pay off the arrears (£30 weekly = £130 monthly against £110 council tax per month).

£20 a month is only £4.60 a week, so the £1900 would be paid off after 412 Weeks!! Nearly 8 years!

You need to start paying a more realisitc amount to cover the current bill of £110 a month and the arrears as well.
:cool:

lauren8125

iam not working so only get £480 income from renting out a room so i dont think iam eligible for council tax benefit or job seekers allowance so i dont earn enough to pay anymore once iam working i can pay more!

CIS

You dont have to work to claim Council Tax Benefit.

What arrangement do you have with the council in respect of the arrears ?

lauren8125

sorry i meant because iam getting an income (not from working, from renting out a room in my flat) i dont think iam eligible for council tax benefit or job seekers allowance

the arrangement was £30 per week.

CIS

I cant see any reason why you cant claim Council Tax Benefit - your circumstances wouldn't stop you being able to claim and receiving any that you are entitled to on your income.

The council are correct in summonsing you for this year if you only made payments against your arrears - you should have been paying this years council tax as well.

The Income & Expenditure form is a pretty standard request - most councils I work with use them. It will give you the chance to justify what you are able to afford.

lauren8125

oh ok thank you i thought you could only get council tax benefit if you are on job seekers allowance or some sort of benefit
if i keep paying the £30 can they still take me court and send me to prison for the rest that i owe?

CIS

They'll take you to court as your not paying the current year .

I wouldn't worry about possible committal action act this stage - its still along way down the line and is aimed at those who dont pay rather than those who cant.

real1314

lauren8125 wrote: »

iam not working so only get £480 income from renting out a room so i dont think iam eligible for council tax benefit or job seekers allowance so i dont earn enough to pay anymore once iam working i can pay more!

If you've been working and paying contributions for the last 2/3 years you should be able to get JSA (Contributory) ; Otherwise, even JSA (Income based) may be available - there are specific disregards for various types of lodger / non dependant. Also, you may be eligible for mortgage help through JSA.

Regardless of JSA, you may still be entitled to some Council Tax Benefit. :cool: