changes to Council Tax Benefit

shop-to-drop

WashingTime wrote: »

Not quite true.

Pensioners will retain their 100% rebate so no pressure at all to move. In fact, it's in their interest to stay and rattle around.

Of course, when their care bills need to be paid, I'm sure they'll be delighted to be abused "the Winterbourne View way"!

Oh what a shame!

clearingout

princessdon wrote: »

The murmers of our council are that they are going to reband - Hitting home owners (many of us who haven't had a penny pay rise in years or even pay cuts due to redundancy) and giving more to those on benefits.

I'm not a fan - others will think it's a fantastic suggestion of course.

many home owners receive benefits...?

I own my house outright - and did so whilst on Income Support a couple of years ago now after my marriage broke down whilst I was pregnant. A huge proportion of families receive tax credit and still have mortgages...

princessdon

clearingout wrote: »

many home owners receive benefits...?

I own my house outright - and did so whilst on Income Support a couple of years ago now after my marriage broke down whilst I was pregnant. A huge proportion of families receive tax credit and still have mortgages...

Good point - bad choice of wording - should have said working none benefit. Those on benefits will NOT be affected they are proposing nothing that affects them.

In our mumurred proposals - I will be paying over £100 pm more, now we have a small mortgage (did buy before prices rose etc) so can afford that in principle - some of my neighbours with higher mortgages may very well struggle.

WashingTime

Fow what it's worth (admittedly not a lot)...

I'd be absolutely amazed if there was universal re-banding (unless Government needs a quick-fix to emply loads of surveyors).

And those on benefits almost certainly WILL be affected (depending on how your council implements the scheme).

princessdon

WashingTime wrote: »

Fow what it's worth (admittedly not a lot)...

I'd be absolutely amazed if there was universal re-banding (unless Government needs a quick-fix to emply loads of surveyors).

And those on benefits almost certainly WILL be affected (depending on how your council implements the scheme).

We don't *actually know * what they are doing - unlike yourself there has been no proposals. However they did send out a letter a while ago than mentioned the value of our banding being £58-£68 K and that recent house sales indicate a minimum value of XXXX and how much value for money we got etc.

This has led to speculation that they will rebrand based conservatively on googled house prices (as opposed to surveys)- I'd be suprised if our council reduced benefits - it has always been against this in the past so I guess for me it's speculation. But there is no-one in our postcode who could argue if it went up 1 band or possibly even 2 bands.

PhGage

My local Council proposes:

Increase in Council Tax (we're already above average).
Maximum Local Council Tax Support will be 80% Currently 100%
Capital and savings reduced from £16000 to £6000

Second Adult Rebate seems to be retained for quite a number of people.
A number of premium groups have exemptions to increase personal allowances.
Provision for transitional protection (as far as I can tell).
No proposed restriction on bands.

We don't receive CTB so we 'only' need to budget for the increase in Council Tax next year. Despite reading the Council's Easy Guide, the lack of examples means that I've no idea how much other people might have to find if they currently qualify for CTB.

clemmatis

This affects Wales too, because central funding has been cut by the same amount.

Re-banding probably isn't an option as Wales was rebanded in 2005 as the first part of rebranding across Britain, but the rest of the rebanding was abandoned.

Horseunderwater

Easy option is to add 3-4 extra bandings on to current ones - no need to do a fresh full valuation. Just adjust what is already there and add extra bands on.
Then if CTB needs to be say 75% - implement that. Yes it will hurt, but at the end of the day - we should all pay something for rubbish and other services.

ladyrider260

So those receiving help will have to pay the 25% shortfall? Not only that but I now have to consider CT bands when looking for a cheaper property (due to my rent increasing and my HB decreasing!) even though they vary from A band to D band for a 2 bedroomed house? Hells bells. I can barely afford to live as it is, I cannot afford any more top ups. I'm almost £100 worse off a month due to outgoing rises and income cuts, this will kill me. Either that or I end up in a bedsit/1 bedroomed flat. Perhaps I can do what the 'lifers' do, downgrade to a toilet then moan to the council about re-housing me??!!

I do NOT expect to be on help forever, I'm almost finished at college, but this is beyond ridiculous. If the council weren't so greedy when it came to banding properties, we'd all be a lot better off. How does one 2 bedroomed house command £100 more CT a month than another similar property?

princessdon

ladyrider260 wrote: »

So those receiving help will have to pay the 25% shortfall? Not only that but I now have to consider CT bands when looking for a cheaper property (due to my rent increasing and my HB decreasing!) even though they vary from A band to D band for a 2 bedroomed house? Hells bells. I can barely afford to live as it is, I cannot afford any more top ups. I'm almost £100 worse off a month due to outgoing rises and income cuts, this will kill me. Either that or I end up in a bedsit/1 bedroomed flat. Perhaps I can do what the 'lifers' do, downgrade to a toilet then moan to the council about re-housing me??!!

I do NOT expect to be on help forever, I'm almost finished at college, but this is beyond ridiculous. If the council weren't so greedy when it came to banding properties, we'd all be a lot better off. How does one 2 bedroomed house command £100 more CT a month than another similar property?

I suspect that depends on the council. In a 5 bed we only pay £24 pw. Other postcodes pay far less.

In our area they are not greedy with banding properties (have to be honest - even though it will affect me greatly). My house is valued conservatively at £250,000 (that is very conservative) and we are in a band of £58-£68.

Problem is re=banding and removing entitlement to some CT will hit the likes of yourself (at the moment - I appreciate you will have a different future) more. For me - It's less disposable income - for renters on benefits it is less to live on.

Each council appears to be dealing differently - ours has promised they won't charge those on benefits anything - others appear to be doing so.