Council tax summons 2018/19 already!

harrys_dad

Council tax benefit used to cover 100% of Council tax, if the claimant had a very low income. A few years ago this was changed so that everyone, irrespective of income, had to pay 20%. If you are unable to work and reliant on benefit, as many are, then this is quite an imposition. Even in a small 2 bedroom house this is likely to be £250 a year in most areas. When you are already living hand to mouth an extra £5 a week is hard to find.

Having said that, Council Tax is a priority debt and must be paid. Well done OP for catching up your arrears, but you do need a plan to keep up to date, paying monthly. If you need money advice help then make an appointment with your local CAB or ring one of the free debt charities like Stepchange. You may consider posting on the DebtFreeWanabee board for additional help and suggestions. You will find people there are very sympathetic to people with problems, provided they are prepared to take some action to sort them out.

marliepanda

harrys_dad wrote: »

Council tax benefit used to cover 100% of Council tax, if the claimant had a very low income. A few years ago this was changed so that everyone, irrespective of income, had to pay 20%. If you are unable to work and reliant on benefit, as many are, then this is quite an imposition. Even in a small 2 bedroom house this is likely to be £250 a year in most areas. When you are already living hand to mouth an extra £5 a week is hard to find.

Having said that, Council Tax is a priority debt and must be paid. Well done OP for catching up your arrears, but you do need a plan to keep up to date, paying monthly. If you need money advice help then make an appointment with your local CAB or ring one of the free debt charities like Stepchange. You may consider posting on the DebtFreeWanabee board for additional help and suggestions. You will find people there are very sympathetic to people with problems, provided they are prepared to take some action to sort them out.

Pensioners are not required to pay 20% and the OP says they are on pension credit (though has not clarified whether guaranteed or not)

Peason

I think i owed everyone tge courtesy of an update..my son paid the fine to get them off my back. Re the CT rebate the CAB also suggested i pursue this but hit a roadblock there. My son frequently works away and has no real home as such so is registered as living at my address and my claim was rejected because they figure HIS income should be considered in assessing MY entitlement and wanted proof of his income too e en though i explained this is only his postal address and dowsnt live with me. I know thata difficult to orove (and would be obvious tactic to defraud them if they just ""trusted anyone but short of going to a solicitor and swearing an afadavid to the effect he doesnt pay me any rent thats a dead.end. Cant even afford to move out as house in poor state but would rather stay here than move to some grotty bedsit which is all i coukd afford. (though it WOULD be more affordable to run :cool:

Anoneemoose

Could your son not pay for the affidavit if it would work, bearing in mind it’s because of him that you can’t get any help?

CIS

Where a person is working away and they have previously lived at an address (and still use it for post etc) then it's very difficult to show that it isn't their residence for council tax purposes. Whether he pays rent or not isn't particularly relevant - a person doesn't have to pay rent to be resident at a property for council tax purposes.

Effectively an affidavit is just a statement that you believe the information is true , it doesn't guarantee it actually is (some people will still swear even if they know it's wrong) and doesn't force the council to accept it any more than any other evidence.

sheramber

You say your son frequently works way.
Where does he stay when he is not working away?

Since your son is the reason you cannot et the rebate could your son not pay the difference between the full amount and the amount after the rebate

photome

sheramber wrote: »

You say your son frequently works way.
Where does he stay when he is not working away?

Since your son is the reason you cannot et the rebate could your son not pay the difference between the full amount and the amount after the rebate

That sounds perfectly reasonable to me

Peason

Kids..sigh..(well hes 51 but still a kid to me) Quote "well its gonner cost me £1000 just to use your address for post and voting i'll get a PO BOX...not amused..cue the argument about why i as a pensioner want to live alone in a run down 3 bed house..Get a lodger..blah blah blah..!!!128546;. Oh well enough of my woes..promise to focus more on the issue and not responses if i ever ask for advice here again...cheeryo

Judojack

Hi
Sorry to here you are struggling with your council tax
Unfortunately the council can do this
Have you tried for help from aged Uk or similar
They should be able to advise you further and check you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to
However I agree the council tax seems unfair ,it is the only way we can live in a fair and civil society.even though council waste millions of pounds
I hope you get the help you need with your pension credit

DoaM

Last Activity: 21-06-2018 5:51 PM

OP's last activity was their last post in this thread - they aren't going to see your reply.