intrusive questions on council tax form

chubb17

I am in receipt of council tax benefit. I am disabled.

I have just received a form to apply for this for 2013/14 which is far more detailed than last year and in particular is asking what I do with my DLA ....... and if I use it to pay for a Motability car they want to see all the paperwork.

What the heck has this got to do with the Council and what are my rights not to reply?

mummyroysof3

My theory is that if they make the form intrusive and annoying enough you will only apply if you really have to and save them some money.

thorsoak

It's the old story - those that pay the piper pick the tune! You want benefits? You have to answer questions

Mara69

chubb17 wrote: »

I am in receipt of council tax benefit. I am disabled.

I have just received a form to apply for this for 2013/14 which is far more detailed than last year and in particular is asking what I do with my DLA ....... and if I use it to pay for a Motability car they want to see all the paperwork.

What the heck has this got to do with the Council and what are my rights not to reply?

You have every right not to reply and they have the right not to award the benefit. You don't like intrusive forms? Tough, I don't like paying £1,500 a year in council tax. I'll swap if you like.

ILW

I'll tell them the size of my willy for a decent reduction in CT.

Horseunderwater

chubb17 wrote: »

I am in receipt of council tax benefit. I am disabled.

I have just received a form to apply for this for 2013/14 which is far more detailed than last year and in particular is asking what I do with my DLA ....... and if I use it to pay for a Motability car they want to see all the paperwork.

What the heck has this got to do with the Council and what are my rights not to reply?

It should not be seen as intrusive IMO. If you do have a car or scooter thingy for your HRM DLA - they possibly just want to see that you are telling the truth. Some benefit claimants may have lied stating that they are doing that and perhaps have not been in the past, even though DLA is not taken into account at present for CTB/HB purposes. Perhaps there are plans in the future that it will be? Rules are forever changing in the benefits world. Although I do not use mine for a car, I do use it for the fuel I put in it. and towards the running costs like a service or MOT. Perhaps you use yours for bus or taxi fares when needed?

chubb17

Mara69 wrote: »

You have every right not to reply and they have the right not to award the benefit. You don't like intrusive forms? Tough, I don't like paying £1,500 a year in council tax. I'll swap if you like.

I have been employed and paid tax and council tax since leaving school......until I was severely injured in a RTA (not my fault).......
would you still like to swap????????????????

Horseunderwater

chubb17 wrote: »

I have been employed and paid tax and council tax since leaving school......until I was severely injured in a RTA (not my fault).......
would you still like to swap????????????????

Trust me they would not. Why would anyone want to be disabled? Either via an accident or illness. If I could be cured of my illness that has caused my disabilities I'd jump at the chance, but sadly it will not happen as no research is happening for my AI in the UK!
Take no notice of the nasties posting on here.

Mara69

chubb17 wrote: »

I have been employed and paid tax and council tax since leaving school......until I was severely injured in a RTA (not my fault).......
would you still like to swap????????????????

Yes, I'll fill in your form and you can pay my council tax.

CIS

I have just received a form to apply for this for 2013/14 which is far more detailed than last year and in particular is asking what I do with my DLA ....... and if I use it to pay for a Motability car they want to see all the paperwork.

Council Tax Benefit is being replaced with Council Tax Support from April 13 - under the new scheme councils can adjust the scheme for people who meet certain criteria.

Presumably your local authority is using Motability as one of the factors which will increase the amount of support paid (if so they need the proof in order to pay the extra).

BigAunty

Is it possible that they use this as a way of identifying who may need a disabled parking bay installed in the area or to cut down on the amount of fraud that takes place?