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

barbarawright

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.

EU students pay full fees at English and Welsh universities. It's only in Scotland that they don't. Of course this will have to change for English and Welsh students if Scotland gets independence :T

Pont

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.

Although we are digressing from the original thread, I feel I must reply - and agree.

It 'tees' me off also that there is overt discrimination with regards to student finance within the UK. We live in Wales, and students are certainly better off if their home address is within the Principality compared to those from England. I certainly do not agree with this way of operating. And no, I did not vote in favour of devolution!

Btw, I am also not in favour that we have 'free' precriptions as opposed to those living to the East of the 'border'. Neither do I agree with limited street lights and no carrier bags to the West of this rather shaky border

Dunroamin

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.

Students from low income families (ie those who receive full funding), living away from home and outside London, currently receive over £7,000 pa (loan/bursary), with the possibility of an extra £1k in the first year from the National Scholarship programme.

Given that this only has to cover a 44 week year and students can do some part time work alongside it, doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

pipkin71

We're considered a vulnerable household as far as our council are concerned [in receipt of higher rate DLA] so are exempt from council tax charges, but for those who now have to pay, it is going to be £3.90 per week.

mysterywoman10

It's so wrong it's a postcode lottery in one area you will be a "vulnerable" household in another not.

Although I think any council taking DLA care higher rate into the equation will be on a very sticky wicket!! And open to a legal challenge.

pipkin71

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

It's so wrong it's a postcode lottery in one area you will be a "vulnerable" household in another not.

Although I think any council taking DLA care higher rate into the equation will be on a very sticky wicket!! And open to a legal challenge.

We have exemptions for those with children under 6, those in receipt of a war pension, pensioners, those in receipt of higher rate DLA, those in receipt of ESA but only if they also receive DLA.

I don't know if it says vulnerable household on all bills - would those with children under 6 be classed as vulnerable? but it states vulnerable on mine [I qualify due to both ESA and DLA higher rate].

What sort of legal challenge would they be open to?

Dunroamin

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.

England isn't in the EU - neither are Scotland and Wales. The UK, on the other hand, is.

mysterywoman10

pipkin71 wrote: »

We have exemptions for those with children under 6, those in receipt of a war pension, pensioners, those in receipt of higher rate DLA, those in receipt of ESA but only if they also receive DLA.

I don't know if it says vulnerable household on all bills - would those with children under 6 be classed as vulnerable? but it states vulnerable on mine [I qualify due to both ESA and DLA higher rate].

What sort of legal challenge would they be open to?

That they are discriminating against disabled people by charging them when they are on Higher Rate DLA. particularly when other areas have exempted them. You need to read the whole of the judgement in our case Gorry etc. to understand why it could apply in other areas and can be used as case law. It isn't just about exempting severely disabled children from LHA/Bedroom tax it has far more significance than that for disabled people.

pipkin71

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

That they are discriminating against disabled people by charging them when they are on Higher Rate DLA. particularly when other areas have exempted them. You need to read the whole of the judgement in our case Gorry etc. to understand why it could apply in other areas and can be used as case law. It isn't just about exempting severely disabled children from LHA/Bedroom tax it has far more significance than that for disabled people.

Isn't it down to individual councils though?

I mean you could argue that some people are being penalised by having to pay 30% when others are being charge 20.

Some people are being penalised because their council won't reclassify rooms, etc.

Our council also had consultations with regards CTS and this is what was decided.

nannytone_2

the only people exempt here are the pensioners
theyre charging 20% but have said if they make firther exemptions it would be nearer 30% which ii think is fair enough ( the 20% across everyone rather than the 30% for some before anyone jumps on me!)