Council Tax Support

Gig1968

My dad currently receives pension credit so pays no council tax, due to council  support.
But as I live with him I have been paying £20 a month for many years, which I thought was for the single adult occupancy as I  was on benefitsand receiving around £5k a year.
I have just created dad an online council account to manage all things council related. Whilst there I noticed that anyone on ESA income related benefit shouldn't have been paying any council tax at all, they are exempt. Even more so if they are also receiving PIP. 
I dug deeper and clicked on my name in the account and they have me down as being on contributory based ESA allowance as that is not exempt , hence the bill for £20 a month.
Can I just check PIP is not classed as a means tested benefit.
I have been on benefits since 2010 so I have probably paid the council in excess of £2k when I shouldn't have been, so if anyone else is paying a deduction please check to make sure bill is right. I will call the council tomorrow to fix the problem. I will only get this year's bill sorted. My other money has gone to fund the councillors Xmas party lunch....

calcotti

Gig1968 said:

Can I just check PIP is not classed as a means tested benefit.

PIP is not a means tested benefit.

Ask the council about previous years also. If they were incorrectly making a deduction you may be able to get this remedied in which case a refund will be due. You'll need Dad with you when you call them as he is the CTS claimant.

You say you have been on benefits for 10 years. Note that the rules for before your dad reached pension age are likely to have been different. 

Gig1968

Thanks for the comments. Dad is 87 so no problems wit the age thing. Dad will answer a few questions before he best confused, but we will get through the basic security etc. Those online accounts are well worth setting up you can find so much out. I didn't think the Pip was means tested just wanted to check. I just read more on the website they class that benefit as being remunerative work and if it's less than £6 it equates to £5 a week as a council tax charge. Should at least get this financial years payments back. I think it's unlikely anything else. They will blame me which technically it is my fault and I accep that , but would many people remember to tell the council they had moved from contributory to income related ESA I am not sure they would. There must be lots of people paying when they shouldn't be. So please check if your situation is like mine 

calcotti

Gig1968 said:

I didn't think the Pip was means tested just wanted to check. I just read more on the website they class that benefit as being remunerative work and if it's less than £6 it equates to £5 a week as a council tax charge. 

PIP is not remunerative work, it will be ignored.

Does your dad get a disability benefit himself?

Gig1968

He only gets pension credit. 

calcotti

Gig1968 said:

He only gets pension credit. 

OK - just wanted to check.

Gig1968

Absolute shambles Birmingham city council they are wanting an award letter dated in this year. The last award letter I had was in 2019. I have a PIP award letter from last year also not good enough apparently. I tried to explain to them don't send out an award letter every year.She suggested I carried on paying tax and if we were paying the incorrect amount which we are, they would refund us one month. I'm really going to do that aren't I I have cancelled the direct debit. Do these people live in the real word. I have already overpaid by a fortune. 

KxMx

Did you not get a letter early this year confirming the new rate of ESA payable from April?

That should be sufficient.

Or you can phone and ask for a proof of benefit letter for both ESA & PIP. 

I would not recommend that you stop paying as Council Tax is a priority bill and they are likely after a few notices send baliffs round

Spoonie_Turtle

Gig1968 said:

Absolute shambles Birmingham city council they are wanting an award letter dated in this year. The last award letter I had was in 2019. I have a PIP award letter from last year also not good enough apparently. I tried to explain to them don't send out an award letter every year.She suggested I carried on paying tax and if we were paying the incorrect amount which we are, they would refund us one month. I'm really going to do that aren't I I have cancelled the direct debit. Do these people live in the real word. I have already overpaid by a fortune. 

Doesn't the award letter give the end date of the award?  I'd be inclined to send it anyway, maybe even a photocopy with the end date highlighted!

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Gig1968 said:

Absolute shambles Birmingham city council they are wanting an award letter dated in this year. The last award letter I had was in 2019. I have a PIP award letter from last year also not good enough apparently. I tried to explain to them don't send out an award letter every year.She suggested I carried on paying tax and if we were paying the incorrect amount which we are, they would refund us one month. I'm really going to do that aren't I I have cancelled the direct debit. Do these people live in the real word. I have already overpaid by a fortune. 

Doesn't the award letter give the end date of the award? 

No. ESA Support Group is an ongoing award so there's no end date on any letter. Although i always receive a yearly uprate letter.

Gig1968

The end date is next year. I can email it but the clown on the phone wasn't accepting that. I've tried contacting the DWP but two hours my ear is tired. It's disgusting really. The bit that made me laugh was when she said keep paying, and if you have overpaid under council rules we are only allowed to refund you one mon, if your council tax allowance is wrong. Yeah right ...