On Disability Benefits & Being Charged Council Tax

Ineedaname

Just moved house and district and the new council (South Holland) have a policy of charging every household, regardless of income status, a minimum of 25% Council Tax.

Anyone know of any other council doing this as I need to challenge it.

It feels inappropriate to me that a council can effectively 'divert' money the Government gives to me to live on, into their coffers to make up for the Government not funding councils as much as previously.

Also thinking along the lines of a postcode lottery creating a discrimination...???  Hence asking how widespread this practice is.

The only way round it (for me at least) is to declare SMI - but even if I do that I don't believe the above is appropriate.

elmer

No one in Scotland gets full council tax paid for on the basis of a disability, only on the level of income, but every council in England sets its own scheme i believe.

marcia_

 Most councils including mine does this. 

Ineedaname

elmer said:

No one in Scotland gets full council tax paid for on the basis of a disability, only on the level of income, but every council in England sets its own scheme i believe.

This is regardless of income.  EVERYONE has to pay 25% of the bill!

Ineedaname

marcia_ said:

 Most councils including mine does this. 

The 3 council districts I've lived in the past 5 years haven't done it.  They all work purely on income excluding disability money of course, which means being in receipt of UC results in full CTB.

marcia_

Ineedaname said:

marcia_ said:

 Most councils including mine does this. 

The 3 council districts I've lived in the past 5 years haven't done it.  They all work purely on income excluding disability money of course, which means being in receipt of UC results in full CTB.

 Yes they exclude pip but don't give discounts just for being disabled. All other income is counted and everyone has to pay 25% 

Ineedaname

So even a single person living alone on basic UC (jobseekers) would be expected to stump up 25%?  Bonkers when that's not enough to live on anyway.

marcia_

Ineedaname said:

So even a single person living alone on basic UC (jobseekers) would be expected to stump up 25%?  Bonkers when that's not enough to live on anyway.

 Yes but you get a 25% discount if only 1 adult living in the house 

Ineedaname

marcia_ said:

Ineedaname said:

So even a single person living alone on basic UC (jobseekers) would be expected to stump up 25%?  Bonkers when that's not enough to live on anyway.

 Yes but you get a 25% discount if only 1 adult living in the house 

As above. Every household pays 25% of the bill. Discounts are then only applied against the remaining 75%.

gbhxu

I think each council makes up their own rules

I live in East Lindsey and pay £27 a month despite being on IR ESA

harpee

Hi it is up to each local authority to determine their own scheme of council tax support (council tax reduction) for working age people. I believe if you wanted  to challenge the scheme this would have to be via a judicial review. Appeals made to the valuation tribunal can only be in respect of a decision made under the scheme, not the scheme itself.