Girlfriend unemployed, Claims housing benefit but not entitled to Council tax benefit

Greedy-Cheater

I am a fulltime mature student, and so am exempt from paying any council tax due to my status.

My girlfriend lives with me,
and after factoring in my student grant and loan income she is entitled to £90 per week housing benefit.

However the council letter says she isn't entitled to any council tax benefit! :shocked::huh:


I know that the [Removed] changed the regulations so that out of your housing benefit money that you receive,
you have to then hand back to the council part of it to pay towards your council tax,
however council tax benefit does still exist!


And so when I am exempt from paying council tax,
and my girlfriend has no income and is entitled to housing benefit,
how on earth can she not also qualify for council tax benefit?? :shocked::huh:

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Greedy-Cheater wrote: »

I know that the [Removed] changed the regulations so that out of your housing benefit money that you receive,
you have to then hand back to the council part of it to pay towards your council tax,
however council tax benefit does still exist!
:

There are no such regulations. If there are please direct me to these new and unpublicised regulations.

Council Tax Benefit was abolished 1st April 2013.

Your joint income probably means you don't qualify for Local Council Tax Support.

Any benefit notifications you have received will give a break down of why you don't qualify.

pmlindyloo

Greedy-Cheater wrote: »

I am a fulltime mature student, and so am exempt from paying any council tax due to my status.

My girlfriend lives with me,
and after factoring in my student grant and loan income she is entitled to £90 per week housing benefit.

However the council letter says she isn't entitled to any council tax benefit! :shocked::huh:


I know that the [Removed] changed the regulations so that out of your housing benefit money that you receive,
you have to then hand back to the council part of it to pay towards your council tax,
however council tax benefit does still exist!


And so when I am exempt from paying council tax,
and my girlfriend has no income and is entitled to housing benefit,
how on earth can she not also qualify for council tax benefit?? :shocked::huh:

Council tax support/reduction/benefit is now in the hands of the local council. They set their own rules and regulations for working age people so they vary from council to council.

You can goggle your local council and find out what they have decided for working age claimants.

Council tax support is based on the household income and therefore your loans/grants will be factored in as regards her entitlement.

She will be be eligible for single person's discount as you are exempt (which is 25% discount) then your income will be factored in. The council will then look at the maximum amount of CT that can be paid (in some councils this is 70%, in others 80% or more) and then will see if there is an entitlement.

You should have had an explanation of how they have arrived at the £0 in your award letter. Have you checked that they have all the correct information?

If you disagree with their decision then you can appeal.

lighting_up_the_chalice

Council Tax Benefit has changed and is now administered at a local level by individual Councils. Have a look on your Councils website to see how they allocate this assistance. Most people now have to make a contribution towards their Council Tax.

Greedy-Cheater

How can they factor in my income though when I am a fulltime student and therefore am legally exempt from having to pay council tax?

Surely the ONLY income they are allowed to factor in is hers? (No income)

fed_up_and_stressed

Household income is usually taken into account for Council Tax Reduction that includes partner income or adult non dependents.

lighting_up_the_chalice

Greedy-Cheater wrote: »

How can they factor in my income though when I am a fulltime student and therefore am legally exempt from having to pay council tax?

Surely the ONLY income they are allowed to factor in is hers? (No income)

Check your local Councils website to see how they administer CT assistance.

Greedy-Cheater

I have looked at their website but they have conveniently chosen to not mention anything about households where one person is unemployed and the other is a student.

When they post the entitlement letter later this week we will phone them up and get them to re-process the council tax benefit side of the claim to factor in that she has no income and that they cannot use my student (exempt) income as a factor.

tomtontom

Most authorities* still count student income as household income. Any benefit claim is based on household income.

* All? I don't know of any that exclude it.

lighting_up_the_chalice

Greedy-Cheater wrote: »

I have looked at their website but they have conveniently chosen to not mention anything about households where one person is unemployed and the other is a student.

When they post the entitlement letter later this week we will phone them up and get them to re-process the council tax benefit side of the claim to factor in that she has no income and that they cannot use my student (exempt) income as a factor.

Problem solved.

fed_up_and_stressed

Greedy-Cheater wrote: »

I have looked at their website but they have conveniently chosen to not mention anything about households where one person is unemployed and the other is a student.

When they post the entitlement letter later this week we will phone them up and get them to re-process the council tax benefit side of the claim to factor in that she has no income and that they cannot use my student (exempt) income as a factor.

You are still part of the household so your income will most probably still be taken into account.