Council Tax Debt

Sparklepants2024

So I'm writing this about my 73 year old mother.  She is in serious Council Tax arrears - about £8500.  She has made absolutely no attempt to resolve this matter.  A liability order has been obtained.  Enforcement officers have called at her address but she hasn't answered the door.  She has no assets of any value that would pay off the debt.  Will she end up in prison?  Any answers would be appreciated!

Mark_d

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-urgent-debts/dealing-with-council-tax-arrears/

Grumpelstiltskin

Yes in theory she could end up in prison, unlikely but it is there.

Does she own or rent her house?

Is she in receipt of any benefits?

Does she have any more debts ?

the answer to these questions will help.

Brie

Is there a reason she hasn't dealt with this, other than she doesn't have the money?  If she has cognitive issues she  (or actually someone on her behalf) might be able to submit a Mental Health and Debt form* to the council to see what they might do to assist.  They might reduce the amount of the arrears, add a small amount to her current payments or write the whole amount off.  

*Citizen's Advice should be able to assist with this but other debt agencies might be able to as well. 

elmer

Its unlikely to be written off, the Council will expect the bailiffs to arrest her bank account and take the amounts due that way, would she be eligible for any reduction due to income that you could help her apply for going forward?

sourcrates

elmer said:

Its unlikely to be written off, the Council will expect the bailiffs to arrest her bank account and take the amounts due that way, would she be eligible for any reduction due to income that you could help her apply for going forward?

You are assuming that bailiffs have such powers, fortunately they do not, unpaid CT is collected under a liability order which gives the council certain powers, not the bailiffs.

OP, we first need to know why she has taken this stance, others have suggested reasons why she may have ignored it above, but a fuller response would be helpful.

Going forward, either herself or her representative need to be contacting the council and seeing what options are available to her, I`m surprised she`s still paying CT at her age, most people on state pension don`t.

I assume she hasn`t applied for CT reduction either, which she may very well qualify for.

Are you able to assist her in this at all?

p00hsticks

sourcrates said:

elmer said:

Its unlikely to be written off, the Council will expect the bailiffs to arrest her bank account and take the amounts due that way, would she be eligible for any reduction due to income that you could help her apply for going forward?

I`m surprised she`s still paying CT at her age, most people on state pension don`t.

Do you have anything to back that up please ?
My elderly mother is certainly still paying full council tax, although I've recently claimed the single person discount for her following the death of my father. I know that people on low incomes of any age can apply for a council tax reduction, but other than that as far as I'm aware there are no concessions just because you are in receipt of a state pension, and most pensioners I know I think pay the full amount.

Sly72

p00hsticks said:

sourcrates said:

elmer said:

Its unlikely to be written off, the Council will expect the bailiffs to arrest her bank account and take the amounts due that way, would she be eligible for any reduction due to income that you could help her apply for going forward?

I`m surprised she`s still paying CT at her age, most people on state pension don`t.

Do you have anything to back that up please ?
My elderly mother is certainly still paying full council tax, although I've recently claimed the single person discount for her following the death of my father. I know that people on low incomes of any age can apply for a council tax reduction, but other than that as far as I'm aware there are no concessions just because you are in receipt of a state pension, and most pensioners I know I think pay the full amount.

Pensioners in the UK (people above the State Pension age) are usually required to pay Council Tax. However, there are some discounts and exemptions available for certain groups, including pensioners. If you’re a pensioner, any council tax reduction will apply to the whole of your bill.

These discounts and exemptions vary, depending on personal circumstances and specific local authority policies.

For example, if you receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, you might be able to get your Council Tax paid in full. Similarly, if you don’t receive Guarantee Credit but are on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings, you may also be eligible for some he

Grumpelstiltskin

With the amount being £8500 it looks as though council tax hasn't been paid for about 4 years.

There is something wrong somewhere unless OP's mother is someone who refuses to claim benefits she is entitled to.

So does she have health problems?

Has she been claiming benefits and not paying council tax due?

Something needs sorting out.

sourcrates

p00hsticks said:

sourcrates said:

elmer said:

Its unlikely to be written off, the Council will expect the bailiffs to arrest her bank account and take the amounts due that way, would she be eligible for any reduction due to income that you could help her apply for going forward?

I`m surprised she`s still paying CT at her age, most people on state pension don`t.

Do you have anything to back that up please ?
My elderly mother is certainly still paying full council tax, although I've recently claimed the single person discount for her following the death of my father. I know that people on low incomes of any age can apply for a council tax reduction, but other than that as far as I'm aware there are no concessions just because you are in receipt of a state pension, and most pensioners I know I think pay the full amount.

My original post was a generalisation, as SLY says, it depends on your specific circumstances and what benefits you are entitled too.

My late brothers CT was reduced to about a quarter because of CT reduction and pension credit.

fatbelly

elmer said:

Its unlikely to be written off, the Council will expect the bailiffs to arrest her bank account and take the amounts due that way, would she be eligible for any reduction due to income that you could help her apply for going forward?

No. Bailiffs only have rights over goods and only then if they can access them 'peaceably'

Unless she has an expensive car parked immediately outside, then keeping the doors locked and not engaging with them is an effective way to block that particular avenue of debt collection.

If she has cognitive problems it is relatively straightforward to get a declaration of SMI, and the mse team has an article on this. This can be backdated and makes her ineligible to pay any council tax. Note you do not have to have dementia - just a mh condition that affects normal social functioning.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/severe-mental-impairment-dementia-council-tax-rebate/

If she has low income she should claim Council Tax Support and the details are on the council website. Not normally backdated.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/council-tax-discounts/#whoyouare

Now that there is a liability order the council will listen to offers of payment, once the bailiffs return the account