Council tax benefit ending?

jimmann

I have just had a letter saying that my council tax benefit will be ending in April 2013.

I can barely afford the rent as it is, if I have to pay all my CT myself I will not be able to afford to live here and will have to move somewhere cheaper.

BitterAndTwisted

At least you've had six month's notice so you can make alternative arrangements.

If you do have to move I'd advise you to get onto it soonish as there will be many other people in the same position all competing for the same, less expensive properties by April.

McKneff

Or find a job/extra job/budget/

WestonDave

When you say ending, is that because your circumstances no longer enable you to qualify, or is this because all CT benefit is in effect being stopped from April 2013 with councils adopting their own specific measures to reduce the CT bills of those on low incomes.

For example in our area people who previously qualified for full CT benefit will now get 80% of their council tax covered and leave them to pay 20% (assuming they are not in a massive property as there is a cap on the band that will apply).

jimmann

WestonDave wrote: »

When you say ending, is that because your circumstances no longer enable you to qualify, or is this because all CT benefit is in effect being stopped from April 2013 with councils adopting their own specific measures to reduce the CT bills of those on low incomes.

For example in our area people who previously qualified for full CT benefit will now get 80% of their council tax covered and leave them to pay 20% (assuming they are not in a massive property as there is a cap on the band that will apply).

Yes is that right that council tax benefit is ending for everyone April 2013?

Some will still get a little help but less than now and it will be called something else not CT benefit.

My letter says I will not get any, I really can not afford to pay it all myself.

andy.m_2

You have little option but to move to a cheaper area or increase your income to match the new expenditure.

At least you are planning ahead and will be able to pick the cream of the crop of cheaper places, many will leave it until March 2013 and ironically, this will drive up prices!

jimmann

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

At least you've had six month's notice so you can make alternative arrangements.

If you do have to move I'd advise you to get onto it soonish as there will be many other people in the same position all competing for the same, less expensive properties by April.

I think it will be the other way around, most places will become empty as people can no longer afford the rents AND pay council tax themselves. They will be forced to move to better value areas even less popular ones.

Yes I will have to move to a cheaper area but so will a lot of people. It will be good for the low value areas, many will be forced to move there next April.

jimmann

andy.m wrote: »

You have little option but to move to a cheaper area or increase your income to match the new expenditure.

At least you are planning ahead and will be able to pick the cream of the crop of cheaper places, many will leave it until March 2013 and ironically, this will drive up prices!

Increase your income? Surely everyone wants to do that. You talk as if its a choice one can just make just like that?

andy.m_2

Not at all, but many can.

Many can increase their hours, or take a 2nd job, or look for an alternative job where maybe before they didnt have to.

jimmann

andy.m wrote: »

Not at all, but many can.

Many can increase their hours, or take a 2nd job, or look for an alternative job where maybe before they didnt have to.

You make it sound easy.

What I was referring to was even if you had the choice of getting a 2nd job, or even a first job in many cases, its not as easy as you make it sound.

Most people today are already finding it hard to live, hold down a job and pay the bills, if council tax benefit is no longer available there could be a serious crisis here in the UK.

WestonDave

Jim - do you get full CT benefit now or just a part of it paid, and do you have savings over £6k. In our council I think the only reason you'd lose it altogether is if your income increased to take you out of the level that qualifies or if you have sufficient savings to give you an assumed income from interest that would also disqualify you - the savings level was £16k and has been reduced where we are. (If you can say which council we may be able to give more help)