Council Tax Exemption???

Terry_collins

Hi,


Im am working and earn just over 25k per year however my wife has been receiving incapcity benefit for the last 6 months and now im struggling to pay for mortgage, higher bills, food costs as well as our 2 young children. The DWP will not provide my wife with income based incapacity benefit as i earn over 21k but was wondering if we are eligible for any benefits such as council tax exemptions as my wife has been signed off for another 6 month from work?

wornoutmumoftwo

You could try entitledto.com, it works out if you are entitled to any benefits.

ParadiseKidd

On 25k its highly unlikely you will get any benefits (except working tax credit and child tax credit), especially not council tax exemption !! In fact I would be almost 100% sure you will receive no assistance beyond CTC and WTC, your income is just too high.

Incapacity benefit is never income-based but follows a set amount for everyone. After 12 months this goes up a fair bit and your wife goes onto long-term ICB which may have implications for your council tax, for example if you have to need an extra room for a disability reason.

For a couple to get income-support you would need to be earning less than 91 quid a week between you (not sure what it is for a family) so you will never get that whilst your wife is on ICB or you work.

It is the sad case that no-one seems to be able to afford to live at the moment and I do feel for you. Of course I feel more for the people who's whole household income isn't even half of what you earn :rolleyes:

dmg24

It sounds like the OP's wife does not qualify for Incapacity Benefit due to a lack of NI Contributions, and is therefore only eligible for Income Support Due to Incapacity. This will not be payable with an income of £25K.

ParadiseKidd

You could apply for Disablity Living Allowance which WOULD make a big difference - it seems your wife could have a solid case if she has a 6 month certificate. I'd go to the CAB asap and seek assistance in following this route.

ParadiseKidd

dmg24 wrote: »

It sounds like the OP's wife does not qualify for Incapacity Benefit due to a lack of NI Contributions, and is therefore only eligible for Income Support Due to Incapacity. This will not be payable with an income of £25K.

Could be, although he says she has been getting it? I thought you couldn't get it full stop without enough contributions? Maybe she only had enough to get it for a short while - no wonder they are struggling if thats the case!

Terry_collins

I think i will go down the CAB route to enquire about Disablity Living Allowance as she has been signed off work for another 6 months meaning 1 year out of work. Income based Incapacity Benefit was not awarded due to not enough NI contributions as my wife worked part time for the last 6 years as well as me earning more than 21k. Thanks for the advice guys

dmg24

Terry_collins wrote: »

I think i will go down the CAB route to enquire about Disablity Living Allowance as she has been signed off work for another 6 months meaning 1 year out of work. Income based Incapacity Benefit was not awarded due to not enough NI contributions as my wife worked part time for the last 6 years as well as me earning more than 21k. Thanks for the advice guys

Well as ParadiseKidd said, Incapacity Benefit is not means tested, so there must be another reason that she is no longer receiving it?

dmg24

ParadiseKidd wrote: »

Could be, although he says she has been getting it? I thought you couldn't get it full stop without enough contributions? Maybe she only had enough to get it for a short while - no wonder they are struggling if thats the case!

I missed that bit, you are right, it is an all or nothing entitlement.

Perhaps she failed the Capability Assessment?

OP, you need to give us further information, as IB definitely does not stop due to too high a household income.

Terry_collins

Incapcaity benefit has not stopped and will continue just wanted to know if there was any way to get a discount on council tax as £138 a month is a lot of money per month with 1 person working.

dmg24

Terry_collins wrote: »

Incapcaity benefit has not stopped and will continue just wanted to know if there was any way to get a discount on council tax as £138 a month is a lot of money per month with 1 person working.

Right, that makes sense, the confusion was that there is no such thing as income based IB.

As womot suggest, try www.entitledto.co.uk, or the benefits calculator on your local council's website.