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Council Tax Benefit - ?????

I just have to post this. It is a simple question - How can you force a council to give a breakdown of how they have calulated CTB other than them just lumping all of the household income as one figure - as 'other income'.

I have been having a go at them going back 2 years, have appealed but nothing is happening!

Jusst received this next years demand which shows that we have a weekly income of £495.12, less disregarded income £105.90, giving an assessable income of £389.22

The only income we get, apart from the disregarded income (DLA) is about £51 a week from private pensions, £56 State Pension for my wife and the rest is made up of other benefits!!

According to them we have a gross annual income of £25,747 with an assessable income of £20,239 which includes pensions of £5564.

I wish!!!!

I will appeal against the current bill, but how do you get them to get off their fat !!!!!! and communicate with me?
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Comments

  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You need to explain all of your income..other benefits can be counted in the calculation. You say your income is £107 per week but pension credit will top that up to £209.70 at a minimum so you must have some other assessable income.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • maginot
    maginot Posts: 484 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I just have to post this. It is a simple question - How can you force a council to give a breakdown of how they have calulated CTB other than them just lumping all of the household income as one figure - as 'other income'.

    I have been having a go at them going back 2 years, have appealed but nothing is happening!

    Jusst received this next years demand which shows that we have a weekly income of £495.12, less disregarded income £105.90, giving an assessable income of £389.22

    The only income we get, apart from the disregarded income (DLA) is about £51 a week from private pensions, £56 State Pension for my wife and the rest is made up of other benefits!!

    According to them we have a gross annual income of £25,747 with an assessable income of £20,239 which includes pensions of £5564.

    I wish!!!!

    I will appeal against the current bill, but how do you get them to get off their fat !!!!!! and communicate with me?

    I would open with your final sentence, I always find people more helpful when you are dismissive and rude!

    Before we could help, what actual joint benefits do you receive in total, do you not agree with the £389 a week before DLA?
  • nannytone_2
    nannytone_2 Posts: 13,004 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    they calculat your entitlement from the figures you provide and financial evidence you provide.
    whay amounts did you put on the form?
  • BigAunty
    BigAunty Posts: 8,310 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you run your income through the Turn2us online benefit calculator? So long as the info you put in is correct, I believe the calculations for benefits like CT are supposed to be fairly accurate.
  • HappyMJ wrote: »
    You need to explain all of your income..other benefits can be counted in the calculation. You say your income is £107 per week but pension credit will top that up to £209.70 at a minimum so you must have some other assessable income.

    State Pension wife £56
    Private Pensions £51
    ESA (contribution) £99
    IIDB £60
    DLA £106


    Total income £372, not £495!

    I've got this problem now going back as far as 09/10. I appeal, but they never reply or give me a breakdown, only another lot of assessments/demands which are slightly different.

    I just need to be able to force them to comply with my request and supply details of how they have worked out the household income week by week since Oct 09.

    And somebody on another thread said that a council can be trusted to get things right!!!!
  • maginot wrote: »
    I would open with your final sentence, I always find people more helpful when you are dismissive and rude!

    Before we could help, what actual joint benefits do you receive in total, do you not agree with the £389 a week before DLA?

    Nope I don't, all I want is for them to show me how THEY have worked their figures out before I show them mine!

    Bieing nice, polite and gentlemanly does NOT work with the DWP, Pension Service or the council.

    I have tried that approach in the past and was continually ignored. They all never reply to letters nor do they return promised telephone calls.
  • nannytone wrote: »
    they calculat your entitlement from the figures you provide and financial evidence you provide.
    whay amounts did you put on the form?

    The same figures I have quoted above!

    Mind you in 09/10 I did a bit of swapping around from JSA to ESA to JSA and back to ESA.

    Then in 09/10, I told them that I was considering starting my own business but that is about where it finished - in my thoughts.

    Then later in 10/11 I claimed Pension Credit, closed it then made another claim and closed that one.

    So nothing changed, the income is the same.
  • maginot wrote: »
    I would open with your final sentence, I always find people more helpful when you are dismissive and rude!

    Before we could help, what actual joint benefits do you receive in total, do you not agree with the £389 a week before DLA?

    If they wish to keep on ignoring me what do you wish me to do, plead with them?

    They are public servants who are required to deal with the public in a fair, reasonable and open way.
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    State Pension wife £56
    Private Pensions £51
    ESA (contribution) £99
    IIDB £60
    DLA £106


    Total income £372, not £495!

    I've got this problem now going back as far as 09/10. I appeal, but they never reply or give me a breakdown, only another lot of assessments/demands which are slightly different.

    I just need to be able to force them to comply with my request and supply details of how they have worked out the household income week by week since Oct 09.

    And somebody on another thread said that a council can be trusted to get things right!!!!
    Yes I saw that...I don't believe it either.
    Nope I don't, all I want is for them to show me how THEY have worked their figures out before I show them mine!

    Bieing nice, polite and gentlemanly does NOT work with the DWP, Pension Service or the council.

    I have tried that approach in the past and was continually ignored. They all never reply to letters nor do they return promised telephone calls.
    ....and I have found being nice and polite can usually get things resolved. If they don't resolve it then don't pay your council tax. They'll then take the matter to court where you can present your figures to the judge. Also keep a copy of all correspondence and don't speak with them on the telephone.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • HappyMJ wrote: »
    Yes I saw that...I don't believe it either.

    ....and I have found being nice and polite can usually get things resolved. If they don't resolve it then don't pay your council tax. They'll then take the matter to court where you can present your figures to the judge. Also keep a copy of all correspondence and don't speak with them on the telephone.


    So glad that others cannot trust the council either!!

    I have never found that to be the case.

    Yes you are right, but there is little chance of them doing that whilst the appeals are still live.

    It's the worry of owing money, don't know how much, and not paying it.
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