Non payment of council tax expected from April 2013

enabledebra

NPowerUser wrote: »

What about if they are are a low earning couple with no benefit entitlements except council tax benefit?

Attachment to earnings or CCJ?

Yes- if there's no benefits it will be the standard enforcement of the liability order but I'm thinking about the impact on council services if recovery costs are prohibitive- I'm assuming this is going to be more of an issue in terms of the numbers of accounts that belong to people on other means tested benefits. I'm sure there must be figures out there about how localism is possibly not actually going to 'save' anything at all.

enabledebra

CIS wrote: »

Personally I feel the government have missed the boat with not amending the collection & enforcements regs from April to allow the use of an Attachment of Benefit Order with out a court summons having been issued.

It would be relatively straight forward to make a change to the regs to allow the order to be issued once a person has lost the right to pay by instalments without the cost (and hassle) of having to have a Liability Order first.

I agree- it seems a complete waste of everyone's time and money unless liability is contested.

KxMx

Our local council still hasn't decided who is going to pay what.

Consultation closes in 9 days.

Kimberley

I can't see why the Council can't take the Council tax out of peoples benefit direct? Like they do the social fund repayments. That way they are sure to get 100% of back.

CIS

I can't see why the Council can't take the Council tax out of peoples benefit direct?

The problem would be in calculating it when every area has a different charge.

CIS

I'm sure there must be figures out there about how localism is possibly not actually going to 'save' anything at all.

It almost certainly isn't going to which will then be blamed on 'inefficient councils' whereas in the slight chance it does work it will be 'a great success for the government'.

FreddieM

From what I understand working within a Housing Association, any benefits due will be paid into a nominated bank account, if the recipient sees a large amount of money going into his/her account the concerns for HAs is that the last thing on peoples minds will be rent/council tax etc. This will lead to lots of CCJs and Courts gearing themselves up to take on these cases in the coming year.
This is a major projected concern based on the current economic climate and difficulties already experience within our Revenues/Arrears departments. I fear the burden will be intolerable for Councils to cope with for years to come. Its a sad state of affairs, and Government will just sit back and watch it snowball.:(

CIS

I fear the burden will be intolerable for Councils to cope with for years to come.

It is already and the changes have barely started.

any benefits due will be paid into a nominated bank account, if the recipient sees a large amount of money going into his/her account the concerns for HAs is that the last thing on peoples minds will be rent/council tax etc.

That's the big worry but it's all about promoting "financial independence"...