How accurate are the various Benefits Calculators ?

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81957339#Comment_81957339

Not sure how they can give anything accurate on council discount. As different councils seem to have different rules on discounts.

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81957346#Comment_81957346

I have found EntitledTo to be able to calculate Council Tax Reduction with some accuracy for different councils. If the rules are published by the LA then they can incorporate that into the model, and the questions specifically ask for postcode and property band, and to confirm current council tax amount before calculating any rebate. Anyway, worked for me in a couple different scenarios.

But I agree it is far more problematic as each LA may have their own rules, and not all LA's publish them openly. If you have a registered account on EntitledTo, at least you get to see the full workings of how they have arrived at their answer so can at least take a view if it looks reasonable, or not (other benefit calculators are available)

whizzywoo

The EntitledTo calculator has always been quite accurate for me, to within a £1. If you put in the Post Code and Council Tax Band it should be able to calculate the Council Tax Reduction and Rent relief.

Does your friend receive Pension Credit? If he does then he won't have to pay any Council Tax at all.

Newcad

The online calculators on the government webpage are very reliable.

As long as you put in the correct information as the calculator asks you then you will get the correct answer.

Always noting though that with Council Tax each council is allowed to set it's own rules.

Try using the Entitledto calculator to see if it agrees with Turn2us - sometimes when the questions are asked in a slightly different way you will give a different answer. (which may be the answer that you should have given before)