Council Tax Energy Rebate for Specialist Supported Housing Tenants

JS1500

My daughter is disabled with a severe mental impairment. She lives in Specialist Supported Housing with a landlord and care provider.(Formerly a care home) She lives with 5 other disabled people.

 

Each tenant has their own bedroom. They pay rent through housing benefit and pay for their own gas and electricity. They do not pay Council Tax as the house is multiple occupancy so Council Tax is paid by the landlord.  As a consequence they don't automatically receive the £150 energy rebate.

I rang the Council Tax office to explain my daughter's situation. I was told she isn't eligible because she is in a multiple occupancy property. I was also told the discretionary payment is only for people in band e - h.

Concerned that she and the other tenants were going to miss out on the £150 energy rebate each I made an application to the Council's discretionary fund anyway, on her behalf.

The form itself makes it almost impossible to claim the discretionary payment because you have to put in a council tax account number, which she doesn't have.  I got round this by putting in 000000. Many people would have given up at this first hurdle.

I made the claim then followed up with an email to the Council Tax department explaining her circumstances as there was no note box on the form to explain her situation.

I've twice chased the council up for a decision but nothing so far.

 

I am very concerned that this vulnerable group of people with limited income have been overlooked.....again.

I wonder, is there anyone on this forum who has knowledge of specialist supported housing or lives in specialist supported housing and has received the council tax energy rebate? Any help or advice is much appreciated.