Council Tax Help

RAS

This give you the LHA rates https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

Blackpool_Saver

You can't help if she wont help herself, is she depressed? struggling generally?

StormyWeather_2

Could you make an appointment for her with the CAB and you go with her? Take copies of the letters from council tax, her wage slips and last 3 bank statements.

Blackpool_Saver

willber wrote: »

I'm glad you mentioned that. Most of the claimants that don't make these claims are suffering from some type or level of mental illness.

Do people really expect someone that has an illness like this to be able to get to grips with the benefit system or understand what they can claim for, how to claim it and where to make the claim.

I know of one person that was and still is suffering from severe PTSD and has failed for many years to claim any benefit! He was and still is homeless and has just slipped through the net.

Exactly....

paddedjohn

OP, are you sure you have the full facts regarding her benefits? How can she possibly be paying her own rent on £250 per month after other bills? You need to sit down and have a proper talk with her and make an appointment with cab.

Bogof_Babe

willber wrote: »

Why, on the other hand, don't you get hold of the council and tell them that a home visit is needed for a vulnerable person. They are supposed to have a team of visiting officers for such events.

If the council plead that they have got rid of the team as it was costing them money - get hold of AgeUK and ask for a home visit and for them to bring along someone from the council and a member of the DWP visiting team.

Why is she "vulnerable"? Just because she's 60 doesn't make her so. Why isn't she working full time, or going on income related JSA to seek a full time job, which would entitle her to some help with her housing costs until she finds a full time job?

I'm struggling to understand why this lady is considered unable to do anything to change her own situation. She isn't disabled is she?

sammyjammy

willber wrote: »

Why, on the other hand, don't you get hold of the council and tell them that a home visit is needed for a vulnerable person. They are supposed to have a team of visiting officers for such events.

If the council plead that they have got rid of the team as it was costing them money - get hold of AgeUK and ask for a home visit and for them to bring along someone from the council and a member of the DWP visiting team.

Vulnerable? We are talking a 60 year old woman who works and has some money issues that she is upset about if that makes her vulnerable god help the real vulnerable.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

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

If her income is just £250 per month then she would get maximum eligible Housing Benefit and maximum eligible Local Council Tax Support. It only takes one telephone call to get a claim form sent out and about 20 minutes to complete the form and return it with the documentary evidence required to process the claim.

Blackpool_Saver

Something must be stopping her, some people are afraid of claiming you know, some people have anxiety, it isn't always black and white

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Something must be stopping her, some people are afraid of claiming you know, some people have anxiety, it isn't always black and white

You can lead a horse to water...