intrusive questions on council tax form

Anny_2

Mara69 wrote: »

Why, thank you woodbine. I live to please you


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.




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.

'A key function of social housing is to provide accommodation that is affordable to people on low incomes. Rents in the social housing sector are kept low through state subsidy. The social housing sector is currently governed by a strictly defined system of rent control to ensure that rents are kept affordable.
' Shelter.


I am sure your council tax bill is more than covered by the low state subsidised rent you are paying in your HA property Mara and more besides - so try not to fret so much about what others may or may not be paying/claiming - not good for your blood pressure my dear.

Looking on the bright side...now your son is no longer claiming 'free money'...with three wages coming into the household you must be absolutely quids in with state subsidised rent. If however with those three wages you are still on a low gross household income...I am sure you will be getting any other 'free money' to which you are entitled...if not and you are not entitled to any top up of 'free money' and no-one is disabled and so restricted with earnings...it does beg the question - why are you living in state subsidised housing with your rent being 'topped up' with 'free money' from taxpayers?

I see no difference between benefits and state subsidised housing in that both are taxpayer funded to a greater or lesser degree. I have no problem with either - for those who are 'genuine', however, if people can afford to buy or rent privately and choose not to do so...are they not depriving someone who is in genuine need? That seems very selfish and greedy to me with the shortage of social housing for those with disabilities and families with children with disabilities especially.

Further according to Shelter there are 7% of social housing properties with gross annual incomes of over 30K - are you among that 7% Mara? I personally do not think a fit individual or family with gross annual earnings of over 30K should even be allowed to keep a tenancy in social housing. If you do not gross that annually - then under 30K for three wages would seem to suggest that some further 'free money' is surely being claimed somewhere!

I am sure you are not an hypocrite Mara and will be able to respond with a very good reason why you and your family 'need' to remain in state subsidised housing.

You see my dear its all relative...I am sure many with high private rents + council tax bills would love to swap with you!

needingtoknow

Mara69 wrote: »

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

I would love to pay your council tax, may I have you're income aswell? Do you not think we'd all rather pay council tax and earn a decent wage to survive? Its sometimes not possible regardless of how hard you try or your circumstance. This is a Forum for help, not for trolling. Where is your empathy and why so bitter?

Zziggi

To the OP, why not just ask the council why they now want this information. Ask them if your DLA has any bearing on your council tax bill. If not, refuse to tell them.

I can see why they might want proof of DLA (some councils are still giving 100% discount to the disabled - mine isn't!!!) but why would they need to know HOW you spend it?

I can see why they need to know about means tested benefits - for the identification of those on low incomes for CTB discounts.

Mara69

needingtoknow wrote: »

I would love to pay your council tax, may I have you're income aswell? Do you not think we'd all rather pay council tax and earn a decent wage to survive? Its sometimes not possible regardless of how hard you try or your circumstance. This is a Forum for help, not for trolling. Where is your empathy and why so bitter?

I'm not bitter at all - just find it incredible that people are complaining about completing a simple form in order to receive benefits.

pickledonionspaceraider

Mara69 wrote: »

I'm not bitter at all - just find it incredible that people are complaining about completing a simple form in order to receive benefits.

Well you do a good job of coming across as bitter. I have worked full time (and in some jobs that I detest) for all of my adult life -people who are simply too lazy to get a job disgust me, and are an insult to my families work ethic.

Having said that, the OP was injured in a road traffic accident, and I would never feel anything but compassion for someone in this situation! Mara69 you really need to take a long hard look at yourself!!

Mara69

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Mara69 you really need to take a long hard look at yourself!!

I really don't

plum2002

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Well you do a good job of coming across as bitter. I have worked full time (and in some jobs that I detest) for all of my adult life -people who are simply too lazy to get a job disgust me, and are an insult to my families work ethic.

Having said that, the OP was injured in a road traffic accident, and I would never feel anything but compassion for someone in this situation! Mara69 you really need to take a long hard look at yourself!!

nope, if the person concerned had been run over by a lorry belonging to HMRC Mara69 would be saying that person should pay for the damaged tyres or else it might come out of her taxes!!

GreyQueen

OP, I'd second the advice about asking your local authority why they want to know about your DLA.

My best guess is this; from April this year central government is cutting the amount of council tax benefit it gives to the LAs to pay out by 10%. Local authorities aren't allowed to cut the CTB paid to pensioners and are charged to protect "the vulnerable" among working age people from the cut.

Central government has declined to define who is to be considered "vulnerable" among the working age population so each local authority is having to make its own policy.

I suspect that the question which is giving you concern is part of seeing whether you meet your local authority's definition of a vulnerable person to be protected from having 10% of your current entitlement to CTB cut from the beginning of April.

I stress that this is an educated guess only, and urge you to contact your LA. They may even have some useful info on their website.

I cannot see how you can avoid answering this question if you wish to claim CTB. If you return the form without answering that particular part, it'll bounce back to you. If you don't return it at all, you will lose benefit.

Unfortunately, form-filling is usually tiresome and intrusive and I've done a fair bit of it over the years, for myself and for others. Good luck. HTH.

Gentile

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Well you do a good job of coming across as bitter. I have worked full time (and in some jobs that I detest) for all of my adult life -people who are simply too lazy to get a job disgust me, and are an insult to my families work ethic.

Having said that, the OP was injured in a road traffic accident, and I would never feel anything but compassion for someone in this situation! Mara69 you really need to take a long hard look at yourself!!

When someone wants free money from the government they should be prepared to answer questions. Its only fair. They need to do some legwork to get their hands on some free dosh.

missapril75

Gentile wrote: »

When someone wants free money from the government ....

You make it sound like "I fancy a bit of extra cash..." rather than being entitled to something because certain conditions are satisfied.

Some requested information is essential, some is helpful, sometimes it may be optional. Unnecessary requests would not be official policy and there would not be an official form for it, which suggests that in this case there's a good reason for it.

Some people probably think the questions on a census form are intrusive, but the information does help with planning.