My dad has passed away and my mum needs help with council tax and rent, don't know what to do, help!

MalMonroe

Hi, I'm so sorry for your loss. And on top of that, trying to sort out your Mum's finances, it's really stressful.

I would do as Alice_Holt suggests and contact the council about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - and also to advise that your Dad has passed away, especially if you anticipate any difficulty with paying rent and council tax. The council can give you lots of information too, about what to do when someone has died. Our local council certainly helped my family, anyway.

There is also some really helpful information here - https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/how-to-claim

Try not to worry because there are lots of other people, sadly, in similar situations when their spouse passes away. Your Mum has you to help her. I'm sure she will be able to manage financially, once everything is sorted.

gwynlas

Sorry for your loss. You should not be thinking of moving back in at the moment as you and your mother need to come to some state of normality following your fathers death. You can reconsider this in time but you need to get back into a routine with work and daily visits to your mum. As regards finances try not to stress these things take time to sort out. If you do move back then you would need to pay full council tax.on a limited income With the nights still drawing in your mother will face some long evening alone. Are there any friends or neighbours who could pop in and keep her company? Will she need further help for the parts of care yoiu father provided? It might be hard for you both but your mum miight nenefit from attendind a day centre or whatever to meet and socialise with others in a similar situation.

calcotti

gwynlas said: If you do move back then you would need to pay full council tax.on a limited income 

That is not correct. If Council Tax and tenancy are in mum’s name then she would still get full Council Tax Reduction.

Jude57

calcotti said:

gwynlas said: If you do move back then you would need to pay full council tax.on a limited income 

That is not correct. If Council Tax and tenancy are in mum’s name then she would still get full Council Tax Reduction.

But surely if OP is working, there would be a non dependent charge? So while mum may qualify for full CTR, OP would be expected to pay a contribution?

Alice_Holt

Jude57 said:

calcotti said:

gwynlas said: If you do move back then you would need to pay full council tax.on a limited income 

That is not correct. If Council Tax and tenancy are in mum’s name then she would still get full Council Tax Reduction.

But surely if OP is working, there would be a non dependent charge? So while mum may qualify for full CTR, OP would be expected to pay a contribution?

     Not when in receipt of a disability benefit - 
 
     @Jude57   Read this carefully:
 
     https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/help-with-your-council-tax-council-tax-reduction-s/how-your-council-tax-reduction-is-worked-out-s/council-tax-reduction-non-dependant-deductions-s/

calcotti

Jude57 said:

calcotti said:

gwynlas said: If you do move back then you would need to pay full council tax.on a limited income 

That is not correct. If Council Tax and tenancy are in mum’s name then she would still get full Council Tax Reduction.

But surely if OP is working, there would be a non dependent charge? So while mum may qualify for full CTR, OP would be expected to pay a contribution?

No, she gets Daily Living PIP so is exempt from non dependant deductions. (In any case, your post said OP would have to pay full Council Tax, not just that they would be expected to make a contribution.)

elsien

Whose money is the £8500 in the joint account? 

It won’t affect her claiming housing benefit but it’s probably something you need to be clear about. 

calcotti

elsien said:

Whose money is the £8500 in the joint account? 

It won’t affect her claiming housing benefit but it’s probably something you need to be clear about. 

I skated over that to deal with the benefits advice, but I agree that it would seem better to separate the funds out into individual accounts.

Millyalfie123

MalMonroe said:

Hi, I'm so sorry for your loss. And on top of that, trying to sort out your Mum's finances, it's really stressful.

I would do as Alice_Holt suggests and contact the council about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - and also to advise that your Dad has passed away, especially if you anticipate any difficulty with paying rent and council tax. The council can give you lots of information too, about what to do when someone has died. Our local council certainly helped my family, anyway.

There is also some really helpful information here - https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/how-to-claim

Try not to worry because there are lots of other people, sadly, in similar situations when their spouse passes away. Your Mum has you to help her. I'm sure she will be able to manage financially, once everything is sorted.

Hi thanks for the reply, I know it's just hard atm tbh and i understand there will be other people in the same boat as us atm as well. I have contacted the council straight away when he passed away as well as his benefits as mum didn't want any letters coming through saying she owed x amount after his death if they carried on paying. Im hoping things will get better, her son my brother passed away almost 2 years ago so it's been quite hard. But I make sure she's ok. Thanks again for the advice.

Millyalfie123

calcotti said:

gwynlas said: If you do move back then you would need to pay full council tax.on a limited income 

That is not correct. If Council Tax and tenancy are in mum’s name then she would still get full Council Tax Reduction.

The council tax and tenancy is in my mums name, this is why I wasn't sure if I moved back in if it would cause her a problem. I only work 11-12 hours a week and get carers allowence for her.