Council Tax Reductions

J2R2J

Going back many years when my mother was alive and living with me in my house, she was on the state pension with pension credits and would have help with various extras such as heating etc.

Initially I got her Council Tax component on my Council Tax bill removed as it was paid by the state but had to show my pay slips to the council (Fylde Borough Council) to prove my income despite it being nothing to do with my income. This is intrusive and an abuse of power to request irrelevant information.

Some years later, Fylde Borough Council took her allowance away and burdened me with the full Council Tax. Her financial situation hadn’t changed as she was still getting pension credits but Fylde Borough Council was too stubborn to cooperate and so I was “forced” to pay her “tax” which should have been paid by the state and I was threatened by Fylde Borough Council if I didn’t pay it.

This is all an abuse of power and as far as I am concerned illegal as I shouldn’t be made pay her taxes which should be offset by the state.

Since my mother passed away, I now get the 25 percent single occupancy reduction, but I have got to watch my Council Tax statements in case they sneakily take this reduction away and make me pay the full amount again.

I have never liked money-grabbing councils for their handling of these situations as they are too intrusive, want to know too much, and sometimes cheat you out of your rights. Some workers are like guilt trippers trying to make you feel you aren’t entitled to anything when you are.

itsthelittlethings

Surely you should have had the single person discount while she was living with you if she was exempt. Did you not get that?

moneytorques

Is there a specific question within your gripe, how long ago is it since your mother passed?
Are you considering a retrospective complaint?

born_again

J2R2J said:

Going back many years when my mother was alive and living with me in my house, she was on the state pension with pension credits and would have help with various extras such as heating etc.

Initially I got her Council Tax component on my Council Tax bill removed as it was paid by the state but had to show my pay slips to the council (Fylde Borough Council) to prove my income despite it being nothing to do with my income. This is intrusive and an abuse of power to request irrelevant information.

Some years later, Fylde Borough Council took her allowance away and burdened me with the full Council Tax. Her financial situation hadn’t changed as she was still getting pension credits but Fylde Borough Council was too stubborn to cooperate and so I was “forced” to pay her “tax” which should have been paid by the state and I was threatened by Fylde Borough Council if I didn’t pay it.

This is all an abuse of power and as far as I am concerned illegal as I shouldn’t be made pay her taxes which should be offset by the state.

Since my mother passed away, I now get the 25 percent single occupancy reduction, but I have got to watch my Council Tax statements in case they sneakily take this reduction away and make me pay the full amount again.

I have never liked money-grabbing councils for their handling of these situations as they are too intrusive, want to know too much, and sometimes cheat you out of your rights. Some workers are like guilt trippers trying to make you feel you aren’t entitled to anything when you are.

How councils work any discounts is down to them. There is no one size fits all here.

As it was your house, the council are within their rights to request your details to work out any council tax liability.

nannytone_2

The liability to pay council tax lies with whoever is named on the bill.
Of yjr bill was solely in your name, then your mum didn't have liability to pay.
Without liability, she couldn't claim benefit  for a bill she had no responsibility to pay.
She should have contributed to the CT from her SP and pension credit

Blancmang25

J2R2J said:

Going back many years when my mother was alive and living with me in my house, she was on the state pension with pension credits and would have help with various extras such as heating etc.

Initially I got her Council Tax component on my Council Tax bill removed as it was paid by the state but had to show my pay slips to the council (Fylde Borough Council) to prove my income despite it being nothing to do with my income. This is intrusive and an abuse of power to request irrelevant information.

Some years later, Fylde Borough Council took her allowance away and burdened me with the full Council Tax. Her financial situation hadn’t changed as she was still getting pension credits but Fylde Borough Council was too stubborn to cooperate and so I was “forced” to pay her “tax” which should have been paid by the state and I was threatened by Fylde Borough Council if I didn’t pay it.

This is all an abuse of power and as far as I am concerned illegal as I shouldn’t be made pay her taxes which should be offset by the state.

Since my mother passed away, I now get the 25 percent single occupancy reduction, but I have got to watch my Council Tax statements in case they sneakily take this reduction away and make me pay the full amount again.

I have never liked money-grabbing councils for their handling of these situations as they are too intrusive, want to know too much, and sometimes cheat you out of your rights. Some workers are like guilt trippers trying to make you feel you aren’t entitled to anything when you are.

I think you may be referring to what was called a Second Adult Rebate also known as 2AR. This rebate was for somebody who lived in a household but was on a low income/benefit like your mother. To claim the rebate the person liable for the Council Tax namely yourself, had to apply but did not have to supply any details regarding earnings or savings, generally only proof of id. The person on the low income provided proof of their income etc.
I expect the reason it stopped was because many/all local governments changed their council tax discounts etc; and now all councils have different discounts/rebates.
You are now claiming an SPD(single person dicount) as you are the only adult living in the property.
Finally, if your mother was not a joint owner with you, then you are responsible for the council tax as the owner occupier, hence why you received the amended council tax bill when the 2AR was discontinued.
I hope this makes sense and providing you are the only adult living in your home the SPD will remain. You may receive a review occasionally to confirm this.