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

sh1981

pmlindyloo wrote: »

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!

Thanks yes I think you are right. However disability elements are taken into account in council tax income calculation as well, at least they are on the paper with me. The disability premiums (or elements) included make up "what the law says you need to live on"...and the excess income is deducted and well that comes to ..i mean if its more than what the law says you need to live on then you pay council tax i guess.

Anyhow so far this is what i've gathered after my research:

What is it… What it's for… What it does…

1. Council Tax Disabled Reduction... Council Tax... Reduces council tax to 1/9th of Band D

2. Discretionary Housing Payments... Housing Benefit... Reduces HB Liability fully (100%) / Spare Room Subsidy (bedroom tax)

3. Exceptional Relief and Transitional Support Fund... Council Tax... Reduces CT Liability half (50%)



Still finding out more...if anyone thinks i'm wrong do let me know

Morglin

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

Those were the days, and it worked....;)

Lin:)

lukieboy96

sh1981 wrote: »

Thank you lukieboy96. At least you confirmed it for me, good to know whats coming. Did a calc apparently mine would be £6 a week, thats almost over £20.

May I ask how long has it been that you've had to pay this extra amount? Is yours at 25%? May I know which council you're under?

I get single person discount. I am in Kent and been paying since last April.

Indie_Kid

thewhiteavenger wrote: »

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.

Oh can she really? Her DLA and the premiums that go with it are because a disabled person generally has extra costs due to disability. Therefore, she may actually be worse off financially.

Morglin

I would have said that for anyone relying on means tested benefits, either out of work (any reason) or being topped up whilst in work, it will be a struggle to meet this extra charge.

As many simply won't be able to pay, surely this will, in the end, create more court cases which will actually cost taxpayers more than just leaving the system alone would have done.

This is where I lose the plot with these so called reforms - unless they will save money, and, none of them are, what is the point of them?

Lin :whistle:

lakes17

Does anyone know if the 25% single person Council Tax discount will continue under these new changes

pmlindyloo

If anyone is interested here is a link for individual councils:

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/toolkit/council_tax_support

Apparently 25% is the maximum that can be charged.

I am a great believer in people power as regards changing things but in this case it is some of the most vulnerable people who are bearing the brunt and often do have not the energy to become involved in local politics.

Obviously councils should use the money wisely but the general public often have no idea of how their money is being spent (including, sometimes, on huge salaries to council officials) and are also uninterested/unable to protest in a way that will make a difference.

The internet is our friend and, in my opinion, everyone should be making an input into bring about changes at a local level by writing to their councillors/MPs voicing their concerns and asking for a response.

I happen to be in favour of everyone contributing to the council tax but 25% is totally unreasonable.

CIS

Does anyone know if the 25% single person Council Tax discount will continue under these new changes

There are no current changes in place to remove it.

sh1981

Well guys, I would have to say thank you to all of you who helped me.

It appears, I now grasp almost fully what is going on. It's not so bad I've concluded as they do have these in place:
Council Tax Disabled Reduction Discretionary Housing Payments Exceptional Relief and Transitional Support Fund
Its amazing that it took me a bit to find this out, I wasnt told this when I called them. I wonder how many others remain in the dark. Or perhaps maybe I was the only one heh.

It also appears no matter what you do there will always be a certain amount of council tax that you will have to pay.

I couldnt quite understand about Second Adult rebate..dont think it applies to me anyway, it's just me and my partner and non dependant kids.

They said they will be coming to see our house to sort out disabled reduction. I did a bit of calc though...

Calculation of Council Tax after application of Disabled Reduction


£ Band D : 1,465.50

1/9th of it 162.8333333

Band A Council Tax: 977

Minus 1/9th of Band D 814.1666667

Council Tax after Disabled Reduction 814.1666667

Council Tax Support at 75% 610.625

Our contrib (CT Liability) at 25% 203.5416667

CT Liability / week 3.840408805

CT Liability / month 15.36163522

Diff bet bef and aft application / month 3.39836478

Could anyone check if I did the above right?

So per month I shall save 3.39 quid
whoopie doop
na shouldnt say that, it helps, it certainly helps.

Oh and i found out what Council tax liability means (what i asked about earlier, the 25% remember..what it said on my bill)..its a posh word for 'what you owe us'! Now why couldnt they have just said that

sh1981

CIS wrote: »

There are no current changes in place to remove it.

i think i remember coming across somethng that theyve hired some company to review such people..dont quote me on it i think i remembr reading it earlier though maybe its just in cornwall