Council Tax Benefit problems

debrag

I don't remember being asked for any ID to open a basic halifax account, I just did it online.

925dancer

From what I can gather your sister has tried to claim some sort of benefit but was declined? Therefore she'll have the paperwork stating this? There's proof of no income right there! Combined with opening a basic bank account or I think there may even be a Post Office account specifically for benefits IIRC?, then she will have all she needs.

As others have said, ignorance is not a reason to be given money from the public purse. I have a list as long as my arm of documents needed to get some help while I'm too unwell to work but I'm under no illusions that I must get them within the time frame specified and it has been entirely up to me to work out what to claim for and how.

If you are going to be financially solvent until at least Christmas that gives you plenty enough time to get the appropriate document sorted for your sister.

In the meantime, pay off the backdated CT owed because it was your own mistake you didn't claim in time.

Edit: Out of curiosity, which council are we talking about here?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

underclasspeasantscum wrote: »

Housing Benefit Officer,

Because our council only processes benefit claims via face-to-face appointment! Oh, and even though the receptionist told me I had to book an appointment in advance, she was mistaken . . . apparently, I could've just turned up any time I liked a booked myself in. But I suppose it's somehow my fault that I was fed false information.

Thanks for the replies by the way.

I am unaware of any Council doing this as they just don't have the resources. What local authority are you talking about?

CKhalvashi

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

I am unaware of any Council doing this as they just don't have the resources. What local authority are you talking about?

We don't do it, as long as there is satisfactory evidence of income/entitlement, and I think most councils have the 'only check if uncertain' policy.

CK

925dancer

My council (and last) do have an option to take your evidence in in person without an appointment, it means you get your claim finalised quicker. However everything up to that point is done online, or over the phone. You can also post evidence.

I have never heard of a council only operating a drop in service for benefit claims!

CKhalvashi

925dancer wrote: »

My council (and last) do have an option to take your evidence in in person without an appointment, it means you get your claim finalised quicker. However everything up to that point is done online, or over the phone. You can also post evidence.

I have never heard of a council only operating a drop in service for benefit claims!

There's certainly the option to, but here, it won't get anything pushed through faster, as there's still a 4 week backlog and all post (I'm told, I'm a Cllr, not a council worker) is opened in the HB office in the order it's received.

CK

seven-day-weekend

I fail to see how it's the Council's fault that you took two months to post the documents or that your sister has no ID.

CKhalvashi

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I fail to see how it's the Council's fault that you took two months to post the documents or that your sister has no ID.

In truth 7DW, it isn't.

I'm just saying this, for if anyone stumbles across this thread on Google search for the same thing, if you apply for any benefit, there are limits on when it can be backdated!

CK

underclasspeasantscum

My Council is Boston Borough Council. Actually, I no longer care if any staff are reading this thread as I'd like to give them a piece of my mind.

seven-day-weekend,

Well, since the Council insisted that I make an appointment to claim Council Tax Benefits, stating that any forms I sent via the post would be binned, and that they could only offer me an appointment around 6 weeks after they posted these forms to us, I'd say that it IS their fault. It is also THEY who get to set the criteria on what is and is not acceptable forms of ID.

Oh, and when I turned up for my appointment, I was told there was no trace of any contact with me and that I was simply lying when I said I'd made an appointment DESPITE my appointment details being visible on the self-booking computer. She then decided she didn't want to backdate my claim until later than a month.

Some weeks later I was informed via post that whilst my claim had been accepted, my sister would also have to claim to recieve her half of the Council Tax Benefits which, they decided, would not be backdated. And then of course, my sister is not able to claim Council Tax Benefit due to lack of proof of income.

So, unable to pay, I was given a liability order and made to pay the Council Tax arrears (which were technically my sisters'!) out of my JSA.

Frankly, I've had enough over the whole matter and I wish to dispute the matter over the magistrates. However, the Council, drunk on their own power and self-importance, will likely not give me the opportunity to do so.

Sorry that I don't have time to reply to you all.

jacques_chirac

Did you not look at their website at any time?

The easiest way to claim housing benefit, council tax support or Second Adult Rebate is to book an appointment with one of our team. If you bring all of the information we need with you it is usually possible for us to process your claim straight away.

Please contact the office on 01205 330055 to arrange an appointment, however you can send your application in the post or just drop in to see us. However if your claim is not complete we may ask you for further information which could delay your claim.

To make a claim for benefit, you will need to fill in an application form. You need to do this quickly because your benefit will normally start from the Monday after your claim form is received by us. Benefit can be backdated but only where you can prove there was a good reason for not applying earlier.

If you would like a claim form you can print one from this website. To download a form, please click on the link below. If you prefer not to print them off yourself we will send you the forms free of charge.