Council tax advice

I_need_advice

Please can you help me, this is going to be a long one.

Previous history - myself and my husband split up June 2009 and he moved out. I was claiming incapacity benefit, I claimed for my 25% discount on council tax and they said I could claim council tax benefit which I have.

Now fast forward 2 odd years, and we've decided that he will move back into the property as he can't keep this property running as well as his.
He has been paying all bills on this property as maintenance.

I contacted council tax and told them they've now said I need to write a detailed letter to them as they think I might not have been in titled to the council tax benefit after all.

My incapacity benefit has gone to a review and I have not been claiming anything other than ctc and c Ben.

Can you offer any advice please.

Alter_ego

Will you be living as a couple?

I_need_advice

No he will be moving back into the spare room - I think ctc called it a non dependant

Alter_ego

It will seem a bit unlikely to them that he is paying all the bills and living there and yet no longer a couple. I'd ask CAB or similar the best way to go about things.
Is a divorce going through? That might help them to believe.

Oldernotwiser

why has he been paying all the bills until now - do you have children?

I_need_advice

I know it looks a bit iffy, but unfortunately that's what's happened. No we aren't going through a divorce just yet. Been trying to get through to CAB but no joy.

I_need_advice

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

why has he been paying all the bills until now - do you have children?

Yes we have 2 children (7,4) he has been paying them instead of maintenance.

Alter_ego

How will you explain food prep, mealtimes, bathroom etc? Will he be staying in his room evenings etc, etc? Who will do gardening, take children to school?

I_need_advice

Alter_ego wrote: »

How will you explain food prep, mealtimes, bathroom etc? Will he be staying in his room evenings etc, etc? Who will do gardening, take children to school?

I will prepare the food for me and kids he will do his own when he is here.
We have 2 bathrooms so will share them.
I only have a paved area so no gardening.
I will take the little ones to school as I have always done, and he will collect them as and when he can as we have always done. As for the evenings I honestly don't know we enjoy the same programmed so will probably watch together. But wouldn't you do this with anyone sharing your house.
I forgot to mention that he works away alot of the time for instance in the past 3 weeks he has only been here for about a week.

Thank you for the questions your really making me think. We obviously didn't think this through properly as I say this is for financial reasons and nothing else.

dseventy

I can't see you convincing anyone that you are not a couple, hence benefits etc will be assessed on the joint income.

D70

I_need_advice

Sorry I don't think I've Meade myself clear enough, my question is, is it right that they ask me to pay back the prev 2 years council tax because he was supporting the house and not paying me maintenance.