Council's council tax benefit mistake

debsf1

Hi, I have recently discovered, to my absolute fury, that I have been paying full council tax for the past 7 years (MINIMUM) even though I should have been granted council tax benefit due to my low income and the fact that both I and my husband are disabled. Our housing benefit has been reassessed each year and so should the council tax have been, but it hasn't due to the council's benefits teams failure to enter the details correctly..

As I was (am) receiving housing benefit and the council tax benefit goes hand in hand with that I assumed that the amount I was paying in council tax was the discounted rate, but it wasn't. I have always provided the council with all of the details it has ever requested and yet they have, for the past 7 years+ managed to 'mislay' all of the updated details. I have been told today that they will only refund a maximum of 6 months benefit.

I am now concerned that they have under estimated the amount of housing benefit I should have received over the years as well, who should I contact to get a final and CORRECT amount that I should have paid over the years. I have been given copies of my council tax bills for the past 7 years and they show that I have indeed paid the full amount. How do I claim back all of the overpayments for all of the years and not just the 6 months that they have told me???? The amount due back would run into the thousands...