Council tax benefits

Paperweight

I was made redundant in October last year and last month started training as a teacher. Until last month I was receiving council tax benefit as my wife's income is low. As I receive a bursary for my teacher training I have now been told that our joint income is such that I will no longer receive any council tax benefit. However, as I am now a student I am apparently entitled to a 25% discount in my council tax bill. I am not sure why but apparently I am.
My daughter turned 18 in July and she has also gone to university. I am now getting lots of questions from the council tax office asking whether she will be coming home for the holidays, whether her post has been redirected, whether she is staying in halls of residence or renting privately, whether she has registered with a doctor and dentist at Uni etc. etc. Can anyone explain why all this info is required?

princessdon

Because if she doesn't come home then your benefits are affected.

CIS

My daughter turned 18 in July and she has also gone to university. I am now getting lots of questions from the council tax office asking whether she will be coming home for the holidays, whether her post has been redirected, whether she is staying in halls of residence or renting privately, whether she has registered with a doctor and dentist at Uni etc. etc. Can anyone explain why all this info is required?

Its so they can check whether the council tax discount to be given on your property is correct or not .

If you daughter cannot be disregarded as a student or deemed to be non-resident then there would be 2 adult non-students (your daughter and your wife) resident and such no discount could be awarded.

Paperweight

Thanks CIS. So if she comes home for holidays is she not disregarded? Also, how come I am disregarded because I am a student even though I live here and she may not be if she comes home for holidays?

Paperweight

@Princessdon. But as I said in my post, I do not receive any benefits.

PippaGirl_2

I'm fairly sure both you and she should be disregarded for council tax benefit purposes as you are both full time students

CIS

I'm fairly sure both you and she should be disregarded for council tax benefit purposes as you are both full time students

Quite likely they are but the council need to check this and keep an accurate record.

CIS

So if she comes home for holidays is she not disregarded?

A visitor would not be regarded as being resident but the council need enough information to check that your daughter isn't resident. If she is resident then they then need to ensure she is a student before they can disregard her.

princessdon

Because if an "adult" is occuying your home - then your 25% discount as a student won't apply, if your DD is a student and coming home - it will.

They just need to check, nothing sinister at all.

And a reduction on CTB is a benefit (of sorts) so they check.

mkcj

Your Daughter should be supplied with a Certificate from her University for this purpose and then you forward it to your council, this is what happened with my daughter.

paddedjohn

Just to add to this, you don't get the 25% discount because you are a student, you get it because being a student you are completely disregarded and your wife is the only adult living in the house.