Worried: New Council Tax Support will never pay 100% even if no income?

whodathunkit

sh1981 wrote: »

I've been doing a bit of research on this. Apparently, in my council, Cornwall, Council Tax Benefit will be replaced in april with Council Tax Support.

It appears that working age claimants pay at least 25% of the Council Tax even if they qualify for maximum help.

Came across http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEEQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornwall.gov.uk%2Fidoc.ashx%3Fdocid%3D68d0644a-8524-4b25-ae6c-93a4805619ba%26version%3D-1&ei=DqYGU8uwLsHb0QWCwIAIusg=AFQjCNFJ1iS0UvMwjA03bsc_dqyrNRY4XQ&bvm=bv.61725948,d.d2k

a pdf file from cornwall council that tells of all the complicated rules, took the liberty to go through it in detail. Apparently I fall under Class D as I claim ESA.

Does that mean 25% of council tax would be paid by me? I don't know, theoretically I would be paying it from my ESA, as I have no other income. Since ESA is also given by the same government that gives council tax benefit (well council tax support as its known now), then what is the point in making the person pay?

Am I missing something? Would i still be eligible for 100% council tax support if I'm on ESA?

Forgot to mention we are also on DLA (highest). So how is a disabled person, who is on highest DLA meant to be paying this 25% if he / she is of working age?

So if someone could help me out by telling me if I'm (hopefully) missing something and in fact I might be eligible for 100% council tax support?

A disabled person on ESA and DLA will have far more income to pay this than a single person on JSA will.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

In April 2013 the Government scrapped the national Council Tax Benefit scheme and replaced it with Local Council Tax Support. This meant each local authority designed and administered their own scheme.

The sting in the tail was the Government decided to slash the subsidy it gave councils. Before for every £1 paid in benefit the council received £1 subsidy from the Government so it cost councils nothing to administer.

The Government decided to give only 90% of the subsidy that councils received in 2011/12. The only safeguards were all pensioners were exempt from the changes and so were the 'vulnerable'. The Government did not define what 'vulnerable' was so each council interpreted who their vulnerable residents were in their own way.

Some Councils decided the disabled were vulnerable - some didn't. Some decided parents with children under 5 should be protected. Others didn't.
Some have decided that child maintenance and child benefit should be treated as income - others don't.

About a fifth of councils in 2013/14 still gave 100% benefit to the unemployed - I don't have the figures for 2014/15.

Many people have been plunged into real poverty - take £3 or £4 per week from their JSA of £71.70 to pay the top up in Council Tax and in many cases £10 to £15 from their Housing Benefit because of the Bedroom Tax and it is a recipe for real financial hardship.

But at least beating the poor and needy plays well to the readership of the Daily Mail and the core supporters of the Conservative Party...

Housing_Benefit_Officer

whodathunkit wrote: »

A disabled person on ESA and DLA will have far more income to pay this than a single person on JSA will.

DLA is supposed to pay for the care and mobility needs of the disabled person. Start removing that money to pay for Council Tax and is some cases the Bedroom Tax and they have even less money to pay for their care and mobility needs.

pmlindyloo

The good news is that you will not have a CT reduction for your non dependants (I believe from a previous thread you said you had two) because you and your OH are receiving the care element of DLA.

So perhaps their contribution to the household can be used for your 25% council tax charge.

sh1981

Murphybear wrote: »

OP I am in Devon, on ESA with no other income and pay £12 per month. There's loads of people in the same situation.

Cheers mate, I dont know how mine is working out to be £4.69 a week, that's £18.76 a month. It's a BAND A property, the lowest.

By the way how do you guys calculate do you do £4.69 multiplied by 53 weeks? or like 52 weeks? or do you multiply it by 4 weeks and then by 12 months?

I have no idea why this £18.76 feels like £1876.00/-

Anyway I guess I've finally solved the mystery. Feels good to know really.

By the way had a talk with the council a bit back they said something about discretionary payment award. I didnt opt for it they were going to send forms. Guess it's for people who really need it so I wouldnt opt for it for now I think.

sh1981

pmlindyloo wrote: »

The good news is that you will not have a CT reduction for your non dependants (I believe from a previous thread you said you had two) because you and your OH are receiving the care element of DLA.

So perhaps their contribution to the household can be used for your 25% council tax charge.

That's good news. Thanks pmlindy

sh1981

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

DLA is supposed to pay for the care and mobility needs of the disabled person. Start removing that money to pay for Council Tax and is some cases the Bedroom Tax and they have even less money to pay for their care and mobility needs.

Wow you have a scary nick!!!

Anyway yes you're absolutely right couldnt agree more. What do you say about bedroom tax though? I mean is there any concession in that or can it be waived off if you're on dla and/or esa. Perhaps that's a topic for another time but a quick idea if you can please?

sh1981

Another question that is still lingering is you know how in housing benefit we get these premiums cause of being on DLA? Doesnt the council tax get any such premiums?

sh1981

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I too am in Cornwall, and my I pay 25%, which is £18 a month for me.

Thanks that about same as me. Misery loves company, I feel so much better knowing we're in the same boat lol

sh1981

p00hsticks wrote: »

surely anyone on a 'really good income', whether of pensionable age or otherwise, wouldn't have been eligible for Council Tax Benefit anyhow, so the fact that they would theoretically be protected from the change to Council Tax Support is immaterial ?

That's a good point actaully didnt look at it that way