Council asking for tax from several years ago

jediknight49

My mother has received a bill from our local authority asking for Council Tax.
For several years she and my father when he was alive, received assistance from the local council that has resulted in no monies being required towards the council tax. Father suffered with dementia and was registered blind. The support they got covered the entire bill during these years.
My father died 18 months ago and my mother lost her guaranteed pension credit as a result.
Now, a bill has arrived asking for monies from the years 19/20, 20/21, 24/25 and 25/26.

How can they ask for monies from years when they were on benefits that covered the bills? Surely that's not right?

Also, why was she not asked for payment last year when the local authority were fully aware of my father's passing and were informed by myself and the DWP of such? 

She is now in a worried state wondering how she is going to pay this bill of nearly £1000 at £108 a month. 

TimeLord1

How much are they claiming she owes them?

So your father passed last year, doe's your mother live alone now or with you. 

Sorry for your loss. 

It sounds like an error on the councils part 

jediknight49

TimeLord1 said:

How much are they claiming she owes them?

So your father passed last year, doe's your mother live alone now or with you. 

Sorry for your loss. 

It sounds like an error on the councils part 

Thank you.

She lives alone. She has done since 2021 when my father went into care and then sadly passed away in 2023.

They claim she owes £24 from 19/20, £22 from 20/21 then part of last year, £300+ and then £600+ from this year's billing period.
I'm assuming they have her on the single person rate of 25% .

TimeLord1

Have they itemized these costs, and when is the payment due date? 

Has anyone phoned the council tax department to get an explanation? I would and visit Citizens Advice.

But pay whenever the date will be; you can then argue the bill and most likely get it back.

But did anyone apply for pension credit for your mum after your late father passed? 

jediknight49

TimeLord1 said:

Have they itemized these costs, and when is the payment due date? 

Has anyone phoned the council tax department to get an explanation? I would and visit Citizens Advice.

But pay whenever the date will be; you can then argue the bill and most likely get it back.

But did anyone apply for pension credit for your mum after your late father passed? 

They have sent bills from those years. All very confusing tbh how it's laid out. Annoyingly each year they did send a bill and a letter saying that she needs not pay as the assistance/ contribution from the council made it so nothing was owed.
They want 9 payments starting from next month.

I will be calling the office tomorrow to get an explanation.

Regards to Pension credit, she received this for a few years during my father being alive but in care. Since he passed, she was informed that she no longer qualified. I think it was more to do with her having my nephew as a carer. That nullified the credit.
So she lost free TV licence, winter warm home discount, opticians and now it seems she needs to pay 25% Council tax. A lot to find simply because of the removal of pension credit.

TimeLord1

So your mum has a carer for? Any specific illnesses or disability?

It's always worth applying for pension credit because even if it's a pound you still qualify for winter fuel and TV licence basic calculator 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/winter-fuel-payment/

TimeLord1

Hopefully the TV license will be abolished soon; two years, I believe, they have left.

jediknight49

TimeLord1 said:

So your mum has a carer for? Any specific illnesses or disability?

It's always worth applying for pension credit because even if it's a pound you still qualify for winter fuel and TV licence basic calculator 

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/winter-fuel-payment/

She suffers with rumatoid arthritis so struggles with some day to day stuff, shopping ect. I've remembered now that The change in universal credit last year is what caused my mam to lose the pension credit.

I'll certainly look at link you've provided. Appreciate your time and information.

TimeLord1

So she gets Attendance Allowance weekly for help during the day and night 

Lower rate

£73.90

a week  

p00hsticks

jediknight49 said:

TimeLord1 said:

How much are they claiming she owes them?

So your father passed last year, doe's your mother live alone now or with you. 

Sorry for your loss. 

It sounds like an error on the councils part 

I'm assuming they have her on the single person rate of 25% .

Don't assume that - the single person discount is something that needs to be specifically applied for (and the council may occasionally ask for confirmation that it still applies). If she gets it it should be itemised on the bill. 

jediknight49

TimeLord1 said:

So she gets Attendance Allowance weekly for help during the day and night 

Lower rate

£73.90

a week  

Yes she does receive the lower rate Attendance Allowance