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MSE News: Council tax benefit axe 'to hit 2.4 million families'

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"Around 2.4 million families face an average hike in their council tax bills of £138 next week, according to a charity..."
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Council tax benefit axe 'to hit 2.4 million families'

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  • UsetheFORCE
    UsetheFORCE Posts: 688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Some people haven't even received the bills yet and are not aware that there is an issue!!!

    On a side note, I though JSA etc was supposed to be 'what the law says you need to live on'? so please can someone explain how that relates to effectively taking a percent of peoples benefits off them???
    I have numerous qualifications in Business and Finance, Accountancy, Health and Safety and am now studying Law.

    Don't rely on anything I write as it may be wrong!!!
  • poppydonuts
    poppydonuts Posts: 2 Newbie
    edited 28 March 2013 at 5:49PM
    South Staffs Mom p/time working home owner has 399% £750 council tax liability hike whilst denied child support by government. This is largely due to the councils decision to include child benefit as income. As my ex Husband is now a student, he has NIL financial liability for our daughters.
    Is it really fair for my local council to be targeting child benefit payments, intended for the good of children in low income families for the purpose of supporting others?
    I find it very distasteful.
  • Wywth
    Wywth Posts: 5,079 Forumite
    "This tax hike will push people into poverty or cause more hardship for already very poor households, taking money from families who had little to start with."
    As David Cameron keeps asking in the Commons, how on earth is a welfare reform ever a tax?

    A tax, under his definition, is when someone goes out and earns money, their money, and the government then comes along and takes it away.

    Now if you want to look at council tax increases without the Daily Mail/Labour spin on it, take a serious look at the increases in council tax owners of long term empty properties are incurring.

    A removal of a possible 50% discount and a surcharge of up to 50% on the full amount owed for that band, so possibly 3x more than last year. Whilst the removal of the discount may not be considered a tax, the surcharge certainly is.
  • UsetheFORCE
    UsetheFORCE Posts: 688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Wywth wrote: »
    As David Cameron keeps asking in the Commons, how on earth is a welfare reform ever a tax?

    A tax, under his definition, is when someone goes out and earns money, their money, and the government then comes along and takes it away.

    Now if you want to look at council tax increases without the Daily Mail/Labour spin on it, take a serious look at the increases in council tax owners of long term empty properties are incurring.

    A removal of a possible 50% discount and a surcharge of up to 50% on the full amount owed for that band, so possibly 3x more than last year. Whilst the removal of the discount may not be considered a tax, the surcharge certainly is.


    If the property is empty for longer than say 6 months then they should pay the tax like everyone else!!! That property should have someone living in it paying the tax so if it is empty then the owner should pay!

    I agree with you on the surcharge though.
    I have numerous qualifications in Business and Finance, Accountancy, Health and Safety and am now studying Law.

    Don't rely on anything I write as it may be wrong!!!
  • jamesd
    jamesd Posts: 26,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Or that property can be demolished so it's not necessary to pay the tax. Which is what happened to lots of commercial properties when something similar happened to them. But for many residential properties the tax won't be high enough to make demolishing the way to go.

    A long term vacant property is likely to have reasons for being empty, since it costs just to have it sat empty. That can be anything from needing refurbishment to being for a person in hospital or for a person who will need to move in but not yet.
  • Nada666
    Nada666 Posts: 5,004 Forumite
    How many HOUSEHOLDS is it going to affect?
  • UsetheFORCE
    UsetheFORCE Posts: 688 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 28 March 2013 at 5:21PM
    Nada666 wrote: »
    How many HOUSEHOLDS is it going to affect?

    Around 2.4 million as the thread title headline suggests???
    I have numerous qualifications in Business and Finance, Accountancy, Health and Safety and am now studying Law.

    Don't rely on anything I write as it may be wrong!!!
  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,057 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    I look at a few ways, people on benefits dont pay for:

    housing
    council tax
    repairs

    So although their income is low add them all up and you get a lot of peoples working wage, whom get no help
    Don't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.
  • Sorry but I have to dispute what you have said.
    Some People on low incomes Do pay for housing.
    They Do pay for repairs and they Do pay towards their council tax bill already, but at a discounted rate.
  • NPowerUser
    NPowerUser Posts: 409 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    A mini poll tax via the back door.

    Everyone should pay a contribution, no matter how small, if they are getting something for nothing off the state.

    Someone has to pay for rubbish being collected, police, schools etc.
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