council tax they want us to inform on our son

Eager_Elephant

I work in Housing & Council Tax Benefits.

You would be surprised the number of claimants who upon being told that a non-dep deduction would apply and they will lose money suddenly remember that said son/daughter moved out 6 months ago and sorry but they don't have an address.

There must be hundreds of non-deps in big black holes across the country.

This is why a forwarding address must be provided to prove they are not at yours and then this address will be looked into.

EE

roddydogs

How is a 33 yrs old a Dependant?
Council tax in not payable by individuals, its levid on the House, 2 0r 30 people dosent make any difference. Would someone explain? thanks

RabbitMad

Correct me if I am wrong but it seems to me (from reading your OP) that your husband is claiming benefits because his income is low. I am assuming that one of these benefits is towards council tax.

Now it would seem that this benefit has been calculated on the basis that yourself (a dependant of your husband), husband and your eldest son (who is not a dependant) live in the property. Therefore the benefit will only cover 2/3rds of the council tax.

Now the council have been informed that actually your other son has also been living at the property and therefore only 1/2 of the council tax should be covered.

If your son was living somewhere else then why shouldn't you tell the council his address. I assume council tax was paid for the property your son was living in, but from your original post it seems either your son or yourself have something to hide.

Maybe (and I am only guessing) your son had moved in with a partner who was claiming a single discount on their council tax?

If either you or your son have been cheating us tax payers out of money I hope he / you get caught and punished, if he/you haven't done anything wrong I hope this mix up gets sorted out for you without to much hassel.

lindann_2

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

I work in Housing & Council Tax Benefits.

You would be surprised the number of claimants who upon being told that a non-dep deduction would apply and they will lose money suddenly remember that said son/daughter moved out 6 months ago and sorry but they don't have an address.

There must be hundreds of non-deps in big black holes across the country.

This is why a forwarding address must be provided to prove they are not at yours and then this address will be looked into.

EE

thank you for the advice, with sons permission we had informed the council straight away, it is funny it co-side the moving in to the new address, it maybe his new partner, ex partner causing trouble.. to all the others, hubby is entitled to all benefits has medical reasons for benefits, we adhered to legal requirements. sad that we are classed/assumed we are guilty before prove of innocents. I still state that when a someone moved out getting on to a year, when l counted out; he is entitled to sort his own personal business out, not come to us as his parents to prove he does not live here..

elmer

Hi, its not a case of innocent or guilty, If someone has informed the council that your son has moved back in and it will affect the amount of benefit you receive, then the council have a duty to enquire. If they didnt and he had moved in you would be receiving too much benefit, which would eventually need to be repaid.
If your son is not living with you, the simplest way to establish that, is to provide his current address, which if necesary the council would be able to contact him at to verify. By witholding information it does at least make the allegations look more likely, and as the moment all councils are under pressure to check claims more carefully, you may find yourselves under more scrutiny as a result.
Hope you get your claim sorted out.
Regards Elmer

Running_Horse

I used to refuse to reply to council enquiries on ex-lodgers new addresses on principle as the poll tax had been abolished. But then I grew up. Working on the new principle that I have nothing to hide, I kept them up to date when my fiance move in. Much as it is fun to frustrate authority, honesty is the best policy.

lindann_2

My moan is the fact he had moved out we told the council this, at the time, where he lived from then its his own business. Again we nothing to hide, so we put it right.. by supplying them with address; with his permission..

yes honesty is the best policy.. which l was being from the very start.. l understand it a bit more now. its levied on the house, not persons..

but each has their duty to say who living there, under that roof.. and they have to prove what their income is.. as the benefits due to that address, think this is right..

it really upset me, that most of the people here thought l was fiddling the system.. etc... thanks for those who helped me,


William J. H. Boetcker:

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.

Rover

lindann wrote: »

Got a letter of the benefit people, they had been informed my youngest son is resident at this address, he moved out two years ago.. He, has or will inform them of his new address as he is moving again this weekend.. They said if we do not let them know in 14 days.. lists of reason why we not let them know etc... also they want information about his earnings etc
letter states that
quote
If he did not live at your address, then tell them his home address.

If we do not do as they say they would insert a non-dependant deduction and alter our benefits etc.. hubby is on pension credit /other son pays his portion of the council tax when he moved in, couple of weeks after son had left our address.. until oldest my son sorts himself out its only temporary arrangement..

Is this a breach of the data protection act? or is their place to find our son?

thank you lindann x

Don't know about any implications to your current status, BUT YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION LEGAL OR OTHERWISE to provide anyone with your Son's details. If money is owed by your Son to anyone, it is their responsibility to track him.

Tell them he left home and you are unaware of his current whereabouts. End of. As I say I'm not too clear on implications to your status.