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

Housing_Benefit_Officer

sh1981 wrote: »

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?

Only if your other room is used by an overnight carer.

whodathunkit

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.

ESA is normal my higher than JSA.

Indie_Kid

whodathunkit wrote: »

ESA is normal my higher than JSA.

Yes, because JSA is meant to be short term and many on ESA have extra costs due to not being able to work.

elle_may

lukieboy96 wrote: »

I am on ESA and DLA and I have to pay a small amount of council tax. Only £8 a month

We too on £8mth council tax, DLA, ESA,N.East. It's only this now but once they start charging it will go up with increase of next year's tax and so on.

sh1981

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Only if your other room is used by an overnight carer.

Yes but I was wondering if you get premiums on top of your HB because of disability, i forgot their technical name but i think it was enhanced disability premium and severe disability premium, you get them added on top of your HB, just like you do on top of your ESA, because of your entitlement to DLA highest rates. Do you reckon they will cover the bedroom tax?

enabledebra

Poll Tax, but blamed locally. It worked - no riots.

There isn't a 'proud' smilie.

Here's what the kids did last time (note we didn't loot for labels we just rioted at the policy): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3nYGoppmoA

sh1981

enabledebra wrote: »

Poll Tax, but blamed locally. It worked - no riots.

There isn't a 'proud' smilie.

Here's what the kids did last time (note we didn't loot for labels we just rioted at the policy): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3nYGoppmoA

That's a disturbing video watched 5 seconds of it and it was enough for me. I'd rather pay than go through that. Do you know if the disability premiums in HB due to DLA would cover the bedroom tax, please?

thewhiteavenger

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?

This has been the case since April 2013.


I had to check your post to make sure it wasn't last year's.


Everybody of working age pays 25% in Cornwall, regardless of what benefit you're on. Arguably you can afford to pay council tax more easily than someone on £56.40 JSA as you can use your DLA and premium to fund it.


There is a hardship scheme available, which next year can pay all the 25% (this year only half that) -go to the Cornwall Council website and search for 'discretionary housing'

sh1981

thewhiteavenger wrote: »

This has been the case since April 2013.


I had to check your post to make sure it wasn't last year's.


Everybody of working age pays 25% in Cornwall, regardless of what benefit you're on. Arguably you can afford to pay council tax more easily than someone on £56.40 JSA as you can use your DLA and premium to fund it.


There is a hardship scheme available, which next year can pay all the 25% (this year only half that) -go to the Cornwall Council website and search for 'discretionary housing'

Thanks I was just going to look into that as it was suggested by the lady from the council i called earlier on.

Cant seem to find anything about the bedroom tax though. Will these discretionary payments also apply for housing benefit. I just dug up my papers and apparently there is a 43.25 and 21.30 added in hb cause of dla ..premiums, under the heading 'how much the law says you need to live on'. i wonder if they would cover ..well should cover the 15% bedroom tax. but then again it might not as what if they will calculate ...ahhhhh so complicated, gonna do more research.

pmlindyloo

My understanding of the situation is:

If you are of working age and are on an income based benefit (IS, JSA, ESA) then you have an automatic entitlement to full HB in social and council housing. If you have extra bedroom(s) then there is a reduction in your HB. (The bedroom tax) Disability elements are not taken into account.

If you are not on an income based benefit then a calculation is made for your housing costs and then the disability elements are taken into account in the assessment.

url]http://www.eden.gov.uk/benefits-and-tax/benefits/housing-benefit/how-housing-benefit-is-calculated-and-paid/[/url]

Hope that makes sense!

Council Tax support is a separate issue and disability 'elements' are not taken into account. Council set their own 'rules' although there are discounts and exemptions. Some of these (I believe, but can't find the legislation) are government directed - single person's discount?)but others are left to individual councils.

I am not an expert in this field so am happy to be corrected!