Council Tax Benefit - moving in with parents

bigpappa

poppy12345 said:

bigpappa said:

Well they called the Council who started asking about my details, income etc. I called up to explain but they were not having it - they think I was coming to liver permanently even after I explained. They said a Benefits Officer will make an adjudication.

Was this before or after you asked for advice here?

They called today in the morning and I posted without knowing they had called as I said I would look into it.

calcotti

bigpappa said:

poppy12345 said:

bigpappa said:

Well they called the Council who started asking about my details, income etc. I called up to explain but they were not having it - they think I was coming to liver permanently even after I explained. They said a Benefits Officer will make an adjudication.

Was this before or after you asked for advice here?

They called today in the morning and I posted without knowing they had called as I said I would look into it.

It sounds as if your parents were not clear about the situation when explaining it to the council.
May be worth you writing to them saying something along the lines of "I understand my parents have informed you atet i am staying with them occasionally. For the avoidance of doubt I am only staying over in order to provide them with support when needed. I have my own home xxx where I live with xxx. I have no intention of moving in and making my home with my parents." If necessary you should provide evidence of your residence elsewhere and a copy of your council tax bill (assuming your name is on it).
The risk now is that council will suspend their benefit until they receive all the information they have asked for and made a determination.
If you parents get housing benefit this will also be affected.

You said that you need to help your parents with their daily tasks. Have you investigated whether either (or both) of them might qualify for Attendance Allowance (assuming they are of pension age)?

bigpappa

calcotti said:

bigpappa said:

poppy12345 said:

bigpappa said:

Well they called the Council who started asking about my details, income etc. I called up to explain but they were not having it - they think I was coming to liver permanently even after I explained. They said a Benefits Officer will make an adjudication.

Was this before or after you asked for advice here?

They called today in the morning and I posted without knowing they had called as I said I would look into it.

It sounds as if your parents were not clear about the situation when explaining it to the council.
May be worth you writing to them saying something along the lines of "I understand my parents have informed you atet i am staying with them occasionally. For the avoidance of doubt I am only staying over in order to provide them with support when needed. I have my own home xxx where I live with xxx. I have no intention of moving in and making my home with my parents." If necessary you should provide evidence of your residence elsewhere and a copy of your council tax bill (assuming your name is on it).
The risk now is that council will suspend their benefit until they receive all the information they have asked for and made a determination.
If you parents get housing benefit this will also be affected.

You said that you need to help your parents with their daily tasks. Have you investigated whether either (or both) of them might qualify for Attendance Allowance (assuming they are of pension age)?

Both are pension age. Not sure what Attendance Allowance is, thanks will look into it. Alot of my time is spent taking them to hospital appointments - my father is weak and my mother has nearly lost her hearing.

calcotti

bigpappa said:

calcotti said:

bigpappa said:

poppy12345 said:

bigpappa said:

Well they called the Council who started asking about my details, income etc. I called up to explain but they were not having it - they think I was coming to liver permanently even after I explained. They said a Benefits Officer will make an adjudication.

Was this before or after you asked for advice here?

They called today in the morning and I posted without knowing they had called as I said I would look into it.

It sounds as if your parents were not clear about the situation when explaining it to the council.
May be worth you writing to them saying something along the lines of "I understand my parents have informed you atet i am staying with them occasionally. For the avoidance of doubt I am only staying over in order to provide them with support when needed. I have my own home xxx where I live with xxx. I have no intention of moving in and making my home with my parents." If necessary you should provide evidence of your residence elsewhere and a copy of your council tax bill (assuming your name is on it).
The risk now is that council will suspend their benefit until they receive all the information they have asked for and made a determination.
If you parents get housing benefit this will also be affected.

You said that you need to help your parents with their daily tasks. Have you investigated whether either (or both) of them might qualify for Attendance Allowance (assuming they are of pension age)?

Both are pension age. Not sure what Attendance Allowance is, thanks will look into it. Alot of my time is spent taking them to hospital appointments - my father is weak and my mother has nearly lost her hearing. 

Information here https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance and here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/

Essentially if they need frequent help looking after their personal care needs they may qualify. Help with shopping, gardening, transporting them around is not relevant. Obviously they can help each other so you need to think about how each would manage if they were living alone.

ak_83

Interesting responses. 

I didn't think the Council Tax team needed to be notified about your regular stays at your parents house since you are paying full council tax at your own property anyway and this is a temporary arrangement, rather than permanent. 

Doesn't sound like this counts as a "change of circumstances" at your mums. If they ask her whether she has any other adults "living" at her property, I would have thought the answer is "no" as far as council tax is concerned because you are paying for the same council services at your own property. Council tax is payment for council services. If you weren't paying council tax, then of course I can see the requirement to notify them when staying at your mum for any extended period of time.