Housing/Council Tax Benefit

Lisa_Rae

Looking for advise again please??

I applied for Housing & CT Benefit when I moved into my flat, it has been awarded but I dont think it has been awarded properly, even my landlord doesn't think its right, as I would have to still pay £88 per month towards the rent.

I live in a 2 bed flat with my 20 month old daughter, the rent is £390 per month & CT is £65.56 (i think - thats with single person discount) I am currently on income support £59.15 per week + £45.12 per week CTC.

I have been awarded £68.00 per week HB & £11.05 CT Benefit.

When I done it on entitledto it came back as a higher award than that & when the lady called from the Housing Office last week she said that a 100% would be awarded :S

Does anyone know if this is the correct award? I would still have to pay £88 Rent & £21.36 towards my CT.

Sorry to be a pain but this is the first time in my life that I have had to claim benefits and dont have a clue how it works.

I did try calling the Benefits Office today but their systems were down

Thanks in advance

dmg24

It it possible that your eligible rent (the maximum rent payable for a suitable property in your area) is lower than your actual rent.

Loopy_Girl

You will need to pay something towards your council tax. If you are on Income Support then you will get 100% rebate towards the council tax but you still need to pay your water and sewerage charge which is seperate.

Check your bill for this year as it has it broken down and you will see. If the amount divided by 12 is not matching then phone the council revenues and benefits department.

dmg24

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

You will need to pay something towards your council tax. If you are on Income Support then you will get 100% rebate towards the council tax but you still need to pay your water and sewarage charge which is seperate.

Check your bill for this year as it has it broken down and you will see. If the amount divided by 12 is not matching then phone the council revenues and benefits department.

Water is not billed as part of Council Tax.

lil_me

If on Income Support and noone else sharing the property you should qualify for full Council Tax benefit.

The rent as stated depends on what the maximum is payable for the property size you're entitled to claim for in your area. I think you will need to speak to your housing benefit office to clarify that.

LHAs are available here http://lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/LHASearchIntro.aspx

Deductions are made if certain facilities are provided or costs are included.

Loopy_Girl

dmg24 wrote: »

Water is not billed as part of Council Tax.

Was just about to edit.....I live in Scotland and the water IS part of the CT charge. Unsure where OP lives but if she lives in Scotland then advice will be useful

Lisa_Rae

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

Was just about to edit.....I live in Scotland and the water IS part of the CT charge. Unsure where OP lives but if she lives in Scotland then advice will be useful

I am from Scotland so that advice is useful thank you! :beer:

Thanks to everyone else who has taken the time to respond also, I will try & contact the benefits office tomorrow & hope that their systems are back up and running!

mitchaa

Water and sewerage is part of council tax in Scotland. It's broken up into 3 parts -Council tax/water/sewerage, but it is 1 bill combined.

However im not sure if CT benefit is only for the council tax element.

It's not fair that benefit claimants down south would pay water and sewage bills, but north of the border they would get them for nothing as its included in the CT.

Anyone from Scotland answer this?

Loopy_Girl

mitchaa wrote: »

Water and sewerage is part of council tax in Scotland. It's broken up into 3 parts -Council tax/water/sewerage, but it is 1 bill combined.

However im not sure if CT benefit is only for the council tax element.

It's not fair that benefit claimants down south would pay water and sewage bills, but north of the border they would get them for nothing as its included in the CT.

Anyone from Scotland answer this?

The council tax bill is broken into council tax and water and sewerage.

If you are on IS then you get 100% rebate for the council tax element but you still have to pay the water and sewerage and it works out at roughly £6 a week (depending on which area you live in obviously but is usually no more than that)

So north of the border the water and sewerage charge must still be paid - you aren't being short changed I assure you!!!!!!