Council Tax Support 500% increase in Council Tax - not so supportive

evenasus

Naf wrote: »

Anyone else received their new Council Tax bill with CTS instead of CTB?
Mine came through this morning expecting new payments of £66 per month, when my old ones were just £11.
Just wondering how other people's have changed?

We've just received our council tax notification for this next year.

It's £220 per month. And we've always paid the whole our council tax.

evenasus

NPowerUser wrote: »

Anyone else think that the Poll Tax would be fairer than CTS?

If you mean Poll Tax as opposed to Council Tax - then yes, I thought the Poll Tax was much fairer.

mazza111

306chris wrote: »

I'm due to be hit with both. Luckily I paid my about 80% of my CT last year while working before losing my job in Oct. They have just takne what was left over off this years bill.

I really dont understand how a single person who may only be getting £71 a week who lives in a two bed flat round here will be able to manage on £71 less 14% for HB reduction less the difference in CTS. On average round my way that would work out at £12.04 HB reduction loss and CTB loss of £4(ish) giving them £55 a week to live on for food, clthes and utilities.

Would somebody in that sort of position qualify for some sort of hardship allownace

I hear you! And totally disagree with the HB reduction in most instances, however, no there are no hardship allowances Be even harder for those who are under 25 in social housing for whatever reason, and those under 25 who are on assessment rate of ESA.

Unfortunately there just aren't enough 1 bedroom places available

Pont

evenasus wrote: »

If you mean Poll Tax as opposed to Council Tax - then yes, I thought the Poll Tax was much fairer.

Me too!

Cost per use (I use this theory when buying handbags too - have to justify it somehow!). For example 5 adults living in a house are probably going to create 5 times the rubbish, tread the pavements 5 times more, use available facilities 5 times more etc.

At the time (remember the demos well) I thought I was the only one in favour of the Poll Tax - felt rather alone

Naf

itch_for_a_glitch wrote: »

Does that mean you are exempt, but your partner is not ?

Precisely. For Council Tax purposes I don't exist, so the bill gets the 25% single occupancy discount.

princessdon wrote: »

It means their partner lost the single person deduction based on OP living there as a 2nd adult. It also applies where the 2nd adult is on benefits. Many councils opted to do this.

Huh? See above ;-)

mysterywoman10

I don't think there is anyway students could pay, with the debts they are having to accumulate, even with parents topping up it is very hard.

They get on average just under £6000 a year to live on whether they borrow it or in some part or have a maintenance allowance. My son's rent alone for a room in a shared house (not in the SE either!) is well over half that amount i.e. £3800 for 40 weeks.

I think we are failing our young people very badly, especially when I know that other Eurpoean countries invest in their young people way above what we do. But they do have strict performance criteria attached to paying them, i.e. 3 no show lectures and the money stops.

Pont

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

I don't think there is anyway students could pay, with the debts they are having to accumulate, even with parents topping up it is very hard.

They get on average just under £6000 a year to live on whether they borrow it or in some part or have a maintenance allowance. My son's rent alone for a room in a shared house (not in the SE either!) is well over half that amount i.e. £3800 for 40 weeks.

I think we are failing our young people very badly, especially when I know that other Eurpoean countries invest in their young people way above what we do. But they do have strict performance criteria attached to paying them, i.e. 3 no show lectures and the money stops.

Couldn't agree more!

My daughter is currently studying in France (Erasmus year). No Habitation Tax (Council Tax) to pay - same as here. However, there is a Housing Allowance (think she got E300 a term rebate). There is also a maximum student rent payable (no free-for-all for landlords to charge the earth for a flea pit). She pays £60pw for a beautiful apartment with many utility bills included (5 spacious bedrooms - 5 students). We have a lot to learn!

But...only the top scoring 70% go through each year to progress further. Students WILL get kicked off courses if they fail to attend a high attendance percentage. Also, if their exam results don't meet the mark they're out - no !!!!!!!!!!s allowed.

As an addition, I note that students studying in Holland are paying the same in tuition fees that I paid 20+ years ago! Am trying to persuade 2nd daughter to consider this as an option - tight or what?

mysterywoman10

No, not tight I think you are being very sensible. We have learned what is going on in Europe because we have a steady stream of students staying with us as interns/lodgers there is absolutely no doubt they "invest" in their young people's future and that's what my German lad told me tonight. He's 24 and just doing a year here as a teaching assistant but still has to do his "masters" before he can be a teacher. He did have a year of National Service though! But then they stay at school until they are 19 not 18. Although he disagrees with them scrapping NS and it wasn't Army it was actually in Caring but they didn't apply it to girls as well!

mysterywoman10

In Norway although it isn't part of EU as such all students can study free where ever they are from!! Although accommodation costs are high.

It also tees me off that English students in Wales & Scotland have to pay the full amount but if they are from the EU they don't!! Apparently England isn't in the EU

Still we digress from the original thread...but there is no way students can possibly pay Council Tax on top of everything else we are having to pay / loan.

We seriously have got it wrong with our Higher Education and as you point out it isn't just about money either.

Lou76

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

In Norway although it isn't part of EU as such all students can study free where ever they are from!! Although accommodation costs are high.

It also tees me off that English students in Wales & Scotland have to pay the full amount but if they are from the EU they don't!! Apparently England isn't in the EU

Still we digress from the original thread...but there is no way students can possibly pay Council Tax on top of everything else we are having to pay / loan.

We seriously have got it wrong with our Higher Education and as you point out it isn't just about money either.

It's because their [EU students] countries are footing the bill, not that England isn't part of the EU.