Council tax eligibility on universal credit

Annie2347

Hello,

I would be grateful for your knowledge again please.

My son was migrated over to Universal Credit last September from income support and housing benefit. 

He now receives the basic rate, housing element and LCWRA Universal Credit. He receives carers allowance for looking after me. 

I receive income related ESA in the support group, DLA middle rate care and low mobility and housing benefit. 

My son and I live together in a privately rented flat and have always been awarded full council tax discount. 

I’ve just looked at our council tax award for this year and the monthly amount has doubled.

I phoned council tax and they informed me that we are not entitled to the full reduction anymore as there has been a change. I informed them the only change is my son receiving Universal Credit. 

I have asked them to look into this. 

Are we still entitled to full council tax discount?

Thank You 

born_again

Council tax discounts vary by councils.

Newcad

Who's name are the Tenancy and the Council Tax account in?

As your son was getting Housing Benefit then I assume the CT is also on his name

Your IR ESA will entitle You to full Council Tax Relief.

Your sons IS would have done the same in the past, but now that he has migrated UC it is not the same - so the council do a calculation to see how much, if any, CTR he may be eligible for.

That is probably what is responsible for the change.

Each council is allowed to have it's own rules on income limits for CTR purposes.

I'm afraid to have to warn you, but when you yourself are migrated to UC then it may change again.

Annie2347

Thank you for your replies.

We are in a joint tenancy so the council tax is in both of our names.

I thought that if someone is on benefits only with no income then they are entitled to full council tax discount.

I’ll look into what our councils rules are. 

Thank you for your help. 

teaselMay

Full council tax discount means different things in different council areas. Where I am currently it means I pay no council tax at all, my bill is zero. Where I'm moving to, a different council area, it means I pay 8.5% of what I would pay if I was not in receipt of a means tested discount - and so 8.5% of (full bill minus single person discount). Seems fair that we pay something really, and it works out about £10 a month.

teaselMay

I found that the entitledto calculator was correct for what discount I would get in different council areas

Annie2347

Thank you for all of your replies. I wasn’t aware that each council works out council tax differently. Our council asks for water and sewerage to be paid in monthly payments. Last year the payments were £36 per month and this year £77, which is a jump hence the query. 

Thank you for your help. 

teaselMay

Are you in Scotland Annie? In England Water and sewage is separate to the council tax, it's paid to water companies and not affected by council tax discount. There are some hardship discounts available on water bills but they do impact your credit record because you then pay less than it costs.

Annie2347

Hi teaselMay, yes I’m in Scotland. 

I’ve looked online and my son and I should be awarded the full council tax discount and just pay water and sewerage charges. I’ll get in touch with the council tomorrow. 

Thank you for your reply.