To think this is wrong re Council tax

[Dryjuice25]

I had a letter from the council to say now I will be paying council tax, whereas I didn't have to do this previously as I haven't got gainful employment. I have young children.I also have debts and I'm currently studying for exams.

I feel this is unfair and it's effectively a 10% benefit cut. Anyone agree? I have not seen this on the news so I think it's beingdone sneakily as this might cause an uproar with the unemployed who already live in poverty having their income cut this way whilst big corporations getaway with paying very litle or no tax at all due to various tax loopholes. I have 3 kids and a newborn. I get CTC two of the children and ex claim for one of the children. I am desperate for a job I could ask any mumsnetters to pm me with any flexible or child friendly job offers please and very angry to have my benefit cut in a sneaky way like this and there is nothng I can do about it.

Anyoone got any letters like this?AIBU to be angry about this? I don't mind paying for council tax although its a pain in the bum but dontexpect a tax demand on income support!!

Please flame me not

[Dawndonna]

Why should I have to move Dawn? Why should I have to change my lifestyle to pay for other people's lifestyles?! Utter craziness. Oh and if what I pay is nothing - are you offering to pay it for me? No. So pipe down please.

Yep, we're just ignoring the bit about respite care and disability services being cut back are we?

[kinkyfuckery]

CTC for two children should be more than £112 fortnightly. If that's what you're getting, you need to ask for a review. I get that weekly for two children.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

"Bruised I hear you. The ex is rubbish. He effectively asked to claim for that child because he needs to live off this money! He does nothing for this child with that money and I'm beginning to resent this lately. Its so unfair and it puts me under much pressure as it's now down to me to financially look after all 3 DCS financial needs"

Not that rubbish that you kept having children with him. Its actually not you financially supporting their needs as your income is all from state benefits.

Everyone should pay council tax, you use the services after all like everyone else.

You have four children and dont work and then have the gall to complain that you have to lay a tiny percentage of your council tax. Its state money not your own paying for it anyway. Thousands have to go out and work hard and hand over their salaries and pay the full amount every month.

[expatinscotland]

'I have the youngest 100% of the time. The other two I have 50% of the time. '

You keep going back and forth between 3 and 4 kids, missing out a child here and there. Why is that? It's 3 children and a newborn, then statements like this. Just

[Babymamaroon]

It's a sad but true fact that there's less money in the pot so something's got to give and this means most services and benefits. Money doesn't grow on trees (more's the pity!) and as a result most people are being impacted one way or another.

[StealthPolarBear]

Who claims cb for the newborn?

[kinkyfuckery]

OP do you really have a newborn as well as a 9 month old??

[expatinscotland]

'OP do you really have a newborn as well as a 9 month old?? confused'

You have to ask? :o

[StealthPolarBear]

Kinky where has op said that? I suspect her youngest is the 9mo and her op is badly worded

[kinkyfuckery]

Just had a quick review of previous posts

[StealthPolarBear]

"i have 3 kids and a newborn. "
I assume that means 3 kids one of which is a newborn. And actually the newborn is 9m.

[Dryjuice25]

Stop the nastiness if you havent read the thread properly.

I have 3kids in total.Why I have 3 is none of your business. I had a job and was made redundant during pg ,so get off your fucking high horse( this is directed at at the person who said why the fuck I had kids to be looked after by the state).

I am not going to keep answering the same questions I have already answered as I have already stated my payments in detail. If you havent seem the details upthread, I'm sorry but if you must post then read first. And yes I am actively seeking employment so. Im not going to give you a figure of my savings as that has nothing to do with anything.

The point of the thread was to express an opinion about how wrong it it to demand tax from peoplewho dont work, and low paid workers.

What get deducted from my IS is just the water bills ( fresh and sewage) the water company didn't send a bill even after requesting one, and the amount was so stupid they adviced deductions from benefit if I chose to. And I am still paying off the debt for the car which is nearly paid off before you call me wreckless.

Some of you can be so judgemental!!! Even without the facts. So so crass

And to those with useful comments, thanks a lot

[CoolaSchmoola]

'I have three kids and a newborn'

Your words OP. Call me weird but where I come from three plus one is FOUR not three, but this did set the tone for the rest of your posts.

I've read the whole thread, and in all honesty your posts are confusing and contradictory. People are asking the 'same questions' because some parts of your posts are as clear as mud and they are trying to make sense of them.

Your last post finally clarifies your rambling, confused point - 'how wrong it it [sic] to demand tax from people who don't work' but IMO there is also a question around should people with savings be eligible for benefits whilst they still have funds in the bank? I'm not anti benefits in the slightest, but I do think they should be reserved for people with NO access to any other money, so who actually need it to live. That way those who have nothing could actually get a decent amount and everyone is in an equal position.

The fact that you have savings, when many people do not, and you are complaining about paying £2.50 a week towards your council tax and bemoaning how unfair it is when your position is so much better than others on benefits is just a touch repugnant.

You initially claimed that you only had £55 a week, but then when called on it added the fact that you get a lot more than that because you didn't initially mention CTC or CB, THEN dropped in that you have savings...

Did you deliberately fudge the figures to try to make your point? Four kids on £55 garners more sympathy than three kids on more than treble that with savings.

Added to which you are complaining about having to spend your savings looking after YOUR kids, when you wanted to keep it and expect the state to pick up your tab so you can have a deposit for a house...

I never thought I'd be telling anyone on benefits they are entitled... But seriously OP - how entitled?!

[IneedAsockamnesty]

The savings are relevant as what money you have access to impacts on what you can claim.

I was actually asking because I was going to offer to talk you through methods of increasing your incomings possibly reducing the effects of any welfare reforms that will possibly cause further income reduction. The reason why I also asked about the third child living with Your ex was to be able to provide you with proper situational personally tailored advice.

But you know what,you've got a bad attitude and I am disinclined to bother,so try your luck with the cab after you've waited about 8 months trying to get an appointment with someone who knows less about benefits than me and by the time your royally fucked and need legal support and discover you can't get it due to the changes to legal aid also preventing it being awarded to challenge benefit awards you may have realised that the ctb being abolished is the least of your worries.

[MidniteScribbler]

having their income cut this way

Benefits are NOT income.

[MsTakenidentity]

Whatevva OP's budget, the 15% Council/Poll tax levy + Bedroom Tax is just a way of clawing back even more from benefit recipients/low income households. Government b'stards

[Sirzy]

Why haven't you used your savings to clear your debts?

[LIZS]

its not too much money, its still a cut on income on the most vulnerable people. For some yes but presumably your benefits will rise by 1% next month whereas most earning families won't get a payrise this year and many of those have no savings to fall back on or an ex H who perhaps could contribute.

Why are benefits not "income" Midnite, were OP to get a job during the tax year some of this might be liable for income tax (JSA is for example, not sure re.IS) as would any interest she is earning on the remaining savings.

[Dawndonna]

having their income cut this way

Benefits are NOT income.
Money coming in is income.

[Januarymadness]

Isn't the point of redundancy money that it is compensation for lost wages? Why shouldnt you have to pay out of that? you also state you have holiday plans so 2.50 a week shouldn't be that much of a stress. DH and I both work full time and cant afford a holiday this year.

[Januarymadness]

I forgot to add that that that is no judgement on people who genuinely cannot afford to pkay through no fault of their own. Those people I have great sympathy for.

[olgaga]

It is absolutely crazy to be paying interest on debts when you have savings sitting there earning practically no interest.

Use your savings to pay off your debts! That'll cut your outgoings straight away and you will easily find the extra £2.30 a week CT you're now being asked to pay.

[50shadesofmeh]

OP I work full time as does my husband we soon will have 3 kids and I have bugger all savings because I need to pay mortgage and council tax, so I say count yourself lucky you only need to pay a token amount.

[50shadesofmeh]

I also have less than £100 disposable income per week after all bills are paid.

[cloudy99]

Try being a single person on £71 a week who still has to pay all bills except rent. Even council tax and she is paying more to subside people with children . So angry on her behalf. She also watched her redundancy disapear as unable to claim any benefits.