Council tax benefit ending?

Fire_Fox

jimmann wrote: »

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.

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.

You have found MSE: there are people all over these boards who are increasing their income, who are living well on a shoestring. You don't have to have a second job to increase your income.

What is so terrible about people having to move to less desirable areas? It's called living within your means instead of the taxpayer footing the bill. If we can reduce our national benefits liability without leaving people destitute that can be used to reduce council tax and increase the personal allowance which particularly helps those on minimum wage or living alone.

Somerset

WestonDave wrote: »

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%

My authority (still out to consultation) it's 90%/10%.

andy.m_2

My SIL gets CTB, will this be changing in all areas then with a percentage shortfall she will have to find?

Depth_Charge

jimmann wrote: »

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.

Hi

Universal Credit (council tax benefit included) is on its way 2013 and onwards - they hope

People are going to struggle, no doubt about it

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/universal-credit/

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/universal-credit-information/#lu

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/benefits_news_and_changes/universal_credit.aspx

Best to read up, keep a check on developments, get advice, be prepared budgeting wise etc

pmlindyloo

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

Universal Credit (council tax benefit included) is on its way 2013 and onwards - they hope

People are going to struggle, no doubt about it

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/universal-credit/

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/universal-credit-information/#lu

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/benefits_news_and_changes/universal_credit.aspx

Best to read up, keep a check on developments, get advice, be prepared budgeting wise etc

Must just confirm that Council Tax Benefit is not being included in Universal Credit (your first link confirms this.)

Council Tax Benefit is being handed over to local authorities.

All local authorities can choose how they adminster it but cannot touch the single person's discount nor CTB for the over 60s.

Other than that they can use the 'pot of money' (with a 10% deduction of funding) how they like. Most councils have consulted with local people about this. Whether they have taken notice of their views is another matter

Our local authority has chosen to limit the Council Tax relief to new build properties from 6 months to 1 month. This 'saving', they say, will mean that instead of getting full CTB those entitled will only receive 90% CTB and will expected to make up the shortfall themselves.

Would be interesting to see what other authorities plan to do.

jobbingmusician

Here's a link to the consultation in Barnet. I suggest you get on to your local authority and respond to their consultation - I suspect that most are having one.

sadly, you have to copy and paste this link - due to the formatting, posting it as a link makes MSE look for pages within its own site. There is no http or www in the address, it's simply...

engage.barnet.gov.uk

jimmann

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Must just confirm that Council Tax Benefit is not being included in Universal Credit (your first link confirms this.)

So universal credit will be a max cap on ALL benefits, but you say it doesnt include council tax?

Notmyrealname

jimmann wrote: »

So universal credit will be a max cap on ALL benefits, but you say it doesnt include council tax?

Correct. Councils will be given a set amount of money and it will be up to them to decide how to distribute it amongst low income families on a per council basis.

jimmann

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Correct. Councils will be given a set amount of money and it will be up to them to decide how to distribute it amongst low income families on a per council basis.

So will families have to use some of their universal credit to pay their own council tax?

NPowerUser

jimmann wrote: »

So will families have to use some of their universal credit to pay their own council tax?

Looks like it.

7900 people on the Isle of Wight will now have to find up to 20% of their council tax bill from next April.
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/council-tax-plans-under-fire-46199.aspx