intrusive questions on council tax form

[Deleted User]

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.

thats a really really helpful reply
if you had nothing positive to say why bother saying anything?
this is after all a benefits advice forum not a benefits bashing forum

evenasus

Mara69 wrote: »

Double the size of mine, so it seems fair that the CT is also nigh on double

Why?

Do you get your refuse collected less frequently?

Do you not receive the council facilities that I do?

cockaleekee

woodbine wrote: »

thats a really really helpful reply
if you had nothing positive to say why bother saying anything?
this is after all a benefits advice forum not a benefits bashing forum

But Mara69 makes a very good point - the OP does have the right to refuse to give information, but if they do so, the authority has the right to refuse their claim.

john539

cockaleekee wrote: »

But Mara69 makes a very good point - the OP does have the right to refuse to give information, but if they do so, the authority has the right to refuse their claim.

No, because the questions may not be relevant, people have rights & we have the law.

Just because jobsworths ask questions, does not mean you have to answer.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

UK is becoming more like Big Brother; we have the highest no of CCTV cameras clocking in at 1.80m. We have Corporate and State Datamining.
Don't tell me noone can object that they have to answer intrusive questions to get their benefit but some questions might push the boundaries and privacy might not be respected.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I guess in life fill no more forms than one has too, ditto with govt engagement. Try to limit it as much as possible within the limits of one's circumstances.
Big Brother continued: advertising surveillance, behaviourial targeting of ads, large datasets being sold to large companies, services that are fab being 'free' in exchange for sold data.

missapril75

Jobsworth.

I always get irritated when I see that word used in this way. People in employment have to follow certain rules and procedures. If they don't, they suffer the consequences. Why should someone get reprimanded or worse just because someone feels superior to the person following the employer's rules? How many here would consider themselves a "jobsworth" just because they're doing what's required for their work?

This was described as an official form not a question some nosey-parker has unilaterally decided to ask.

There have been several possible explanations offered. They're all valid and may even be of some benefit to the person being asked.

It's like being asked about non dependent income eg your grown up kids in work. That's sounds like it's nobody's business as well doesn't it.

But their level of income determines the non dependent deduction appropriate.

The question must have some relevance. Why on earth would they want to waste time on unnecessary detail? Probably a lot of thought and research has gone into that form.

Perhaps a brief note of explanation on the form might help or maybe an associated guidance leaflet.

Mara69

woodbine wrote: »

thats a really really helpful reply

Why, thank you woodbine. I live to please you

woodbine wrote: »

tif you had nothing positive to say why bother saying anything?

By positive, do you mean I should have told the OP that the nasty, nasty people are horrid and mean asking him lots of questions in order for them to be sure he qualifies for free money? If so, no need, loads of other people have already said that.

woodbine wrote: »

this is after all a benefits advice forum not a benefits bashing forum

Indeed it is. I wasn't bashing as you so fondly put it. I was merely pointing out that one has to jump through certain hoops in order to secure yet more free money. If one doesn't want to do what is, after all, not the most onerous task in the world then one could simply not participate. Of course, the net result is no council tax benefit. Simple really.

Gentile

Unless the question was about how many times you have sex in a day, I would not consider it intrusive.

SnooksNJ

cockaleekee wrote: »

But Mara69 makes a very good point - the OP does have the right to refuse to give information, but if they do so, the authority has the right to refuse their claim.

I am an immigrant and I was asked intrusive questions on each visa application as well as being fingerprinted. I didn't like it but the UKBA had something I wanted, permission to live in the UK and my Husband, so I filled it out. The alternative was not to fill it out and be refused the privilege of living in this country.