Council Tax Help

headgirl49

Hi guys and girls..am wondering if anyone can provide me and my bf some help with a situation. My boyfriends mum is 60 years old and lives on her own. She works part time and only gets £250 a month, but was told that her wages are not low enough to qualify for a council tax low income status/exemption but a reduction. However she also has to pay rent, gas, food, electricity etc. We've tried explaining to her that she'd probably be better on benefits, it just economically doesn't work out well for her to work but she refuses to. Now she's struggling to pay the council tax bill and so we advised her to tell them how much she earns exactly and ring them so perhaps she could get a payment plan in as it's taking 75% of her wages now. They told her they couldn't do any payment plan as it's not 'council policy' and unfortunately everyone has to pay council tax no matter what but they'd note her difficulty and situation. Now after saying that they've sent her a court summons for some of it she owes and told her she's charged £80 for the letter alone. I think when she's already explained at her age she's struggling to pay it due to the fact she works part time and is supporting her house on her own this was a bit overzealous of the council. She's become really depressed now and not sleeping/crying all the time.
We wanted to know if we drafted a letter for her if there was any laws or legislation that can help her?

Anyone who can help would be sincerely appreciated

paddedjohn

If she is only earning £250 per month then she must already be getting benefits to pay her rent.

Horseunderwater

headgirl49 wrote: »

Hi guys and girls..am wondering if anyone can provide me and my bf some help with a situation. My boyfriends mum is 60 years old and lives on her own. She works part time and only gets £250 a month, but was told that her wages are not low enough to qualify for a council tax low income status/exemption but a reduction. However she also has to pay rent, gas, food, electricity etc. We've tried explaining to her that she'd probably be better on benefits, it just economically doesn't work out well for her to work but she refuses to. Now she's struggling to pay the council tax bill and so we advised her to tell them how much she earns exactly and ring them so perhaps she could get a payment plan in as it's taking 75% of her wages now. They told her they couldn't do any payment plan as it's not 'council policy' and unfortunately everyone has to pay council tax no matter what but they'd note her difficulty and situation. Now after saying that they've sent her a court summons for some of it she owes and told her she's charged £80 for the letter alone. I think when she's already explained at her age she's struggling to pay it due to the fact she works part time and is supporting her house on her own this was a bit overzealous of the council. She's become really depressed now and not sleeping/crying all the time.
We wanted to know if we drafted a letter for her if there was any laws or legislation that can help her?

Anyone who can help would be sincerely appreciated

On an income so low she should be on Full housing benefit initially then whatever rate a 1 bed place equals with her LA, and up to 91.5% local council tax Support might be less. She urgently needs to put in an application to her local authority via their web site to claim these 2 things.

allen35

If she doesn't have any other income than £250 pcm then she can claim JSA to top her income up to the minimum of £71.70 plus disregard which will entitle her to the maximum Housing Benefit if required and Council Tax Support for her circumstances, then once on JSA she can request direct deductions from benefits which is approx' £4 pw off her arrears

CIS

We wanted to know if we drafted a letter for her if there was any laws or legislation that can help her?

No. Council Tax itself offers no reductions based on income, any reductions have to be claimed via council benefit/council tax support for which the amount paid is means tested.

headgirl49

She can't claim JSA because she works over 6 hours a week she's been told which isn't eligible. And as someone said council tax offers no reductions based on income. Also she does not claim ANY benefits she is constantly in overdraft..

heartbreak_star

She needs to speak to someone in the council offices then!

HBS x

sammyjammy

The limit for being able to claim JSA is less than 16 hours so she can claim this but unless she has exceptional circumstances will have to also seek full time work. You do realise that 60 isn't old don't you? To get help with her council tax she needs to fill out a form for council tax support.

Does she have any other income because I honestly don't see how she could live on £250 a month without receiving any benefits whatsoever?

zaksmum

headgirl49 wrote: »

She can't claim JSA because she works over 6 hours a week she's been told which isn't eligible. And as someone said council tax offers no reductions based on income. Also she does not claim ANY benefits she is constantly in overdraft..

How on earth is she coping?

headgirl49

This is the problem zaksmum..she isn't..thus why she cant pay the council tax and is crying everyday. She told the council this they weren't bothered! Is there nothing we can do?

RAS

Your BF's mum needs to go to www.turn2us.org.uk and put in the details of her case (income, rent, value of local LHA, CT liability etc) and see what she is entitled to.

She can apply for JSA, LHA and CTB.

I assume she already has applied for the CT reduction for single people??