council tax benefit

mysterywoman10

It's explained by angry buffalo on this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4502723

skylight

I have to pay 32% now - £56 per month in council tax. Plus the reduction due to having an extra bedroom.

However, I don't have an extra bedroom! I have a 4-bed with 5 kids, one of whom I foster, well Kinship foster as he is my grandson. But I don't qualify for the foster carer exemption because its a Kinship foster and not Foster Care. Despite the fact I have had to go through the exact same processes, meetings, CRB checks. This is my council telling me that I don't qualify for the exemption but also didn't mention anything about discretionary payments.

It will be even worse when the cap comes into play as it will happen around the same time the SGO should be granted in court for him and he will no longer be a kinship foster child and I can claim the CB and CTC for him - although the cap then means that I lose everything I would get for him, but I wont see a reduction in the housing benefit then as I wont have an extra room!

Ah well. It still has to be paid. At least its all been known about for sometime so I have had plenty of time to get my own (financial) house in order.

MissMoneypenny

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

The I think there could be grounds for appeal on Human Rights grounds,

I'd like a glass of whatever you're on.

mysterywoman10

Well thankfully it isn't bitterness and I've succeed in doing it, so I think I do know a little bit about it

mysterywoman10

skylight wrote: »

I have to pay 32% now - £56 per month in council tax. Plus the reduction due to having an extra bedroom.

However, I don't have an extra bedroom! I have a 4-bed with 5 kids, one of whom I foster, well Kinship foster as he is my grandson. But I don't qualify for the foster carer exemption because its a Kinship foster and not Foster Care. Despite the fact I have had to go through the exact same processes, meetings, CRB checks. This is my council telling me that I don't qualify for the exemption but also didn't mention anything about discretionary payments.

It will be even worse when the cap comes into play as it will happen around the same time the SGO should be granted in court for him and he will no longer be a kinship foster child and I can claim the CB and CTC for him - although the cap then means that I lose everything I would get for him, but I wont see a reduction in the housing benefit then as I wont have an extra room!

Ah well. It still has to be paid. At least its all been known about for sometime so I have had plenty of time to get my own (financial) house in order.

Sounds like a house full to me!

So is it all to do with the ages of the children and sexes etc.? Why they say you only need 3 bedrooms?

MissMoneypenny

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

Well thankfully it isn't bitterness and I've succeed in doing it, so I think I do know a little bit about it

You've used human rights to appeal your housing benefit reductions? That was quick.

skylight

They are all under 11. I have 3 girls, 11, 8 and 6. Then 1 boy who is 4. My grandson is under 2. Once I legally have my grandson he will be counted too.

Its a busy and rather loud household and thank goodness we have really nice, understanding neighbours!

mysterywoman10

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

You've used human rights to appeal your housing benefit reductions? That was quick.

Not mine personally but yes for some

mysterywoman10

So are they saying the 3 girls should share? And the two boys? Crazy!!

Also in foster caring they insist on a separate room in many cases.

Sounds like another HR case!

The effect sounds disproportionate to me. With 5 children how could you move?!

skylight

Not quite - the grandson isn't counted - only the four kids. They want the 2 older girls to share and the younger girl and my boy. My grandson isn't included in the calculations as he is kinship fostered.