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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think I should be entitled to some discount

91 replies

user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 10:57

Just wanted to see if anyone else has experience of this.
I work 16 hrs a week minimum wage job and have to pay full council tax.
AIBU to think I should be entitled to some discount and is anyone else in a simular situation.
Posting on this board for traffic.
The only thing I qualify for is the single person discount.

OP posts:
WitchesHatRim · 23/12/2017 11:23

Will just accept that I need to pay full amount.

You aren't paying the full amount though are you!

TheLastSoala · 23/12/2017 11:24

As lost said, your total income is probably similar to someone who works 35hours minimum wage (or possibly more).

They don’t get a reduction either.

BluePlasticBuddha · 23/12/2017 11:24

But you have got good comments and suggestions, namely how to apply for it.

Zaphodsotherhead · 23/12/2017 11:24

I'm in the same position - except I don't have any children living at home (so no benefits whatsoever for me) and my work hours vary. I'm on a 16 hour contract (so at quiet times that's all the hours I get) and when we're busy I can work up to 40 hours.

And have to be available at all times, so can't get an additional job. I do a self-employed job in the hours I'm not there, but the earnings are sporadic and can be dreadful. So I am in something of the same boat, OP. (and my Council Tax is over £150 a month, with single person discount).

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 11:25

Thanks Branleuse for understanding.
Your right with my current outgoings and needing to top up my private rent by a large amount I would be better of not working at all.

OP posts:
Bumbumtaloo · 23/12/2017 11:25

Our council tax reduction was calculated at the same time as our housing benefit, we didn’t need to apply for it separately - I’m unable to work through ill health and DH is my carer and is redone automatically each year or when someone who think they know us and our situation decided to report us for benefit fraud haha dickhead we only claim what we are entitled to

MoreCheerfulMonica · 23/12/2017 11:25

Sorry, I didn't express that very clearly. As you're already getting the single occupier discount, you need to use your council's online calculator to check your eligibility for council tax reduction (ours calls it council tax support) or other benefits.

Rainybohoho · 23/12/2017 11:28

Goady toad aren’t we OP?

Check your entitlements on entitledto.co.uk

If you’re not supposed to have it, you won’t get it. That’s life.

Bumbumtaloo · 23/12/2017 11:30

Sorry should clarify what I meant by haha dickhead - one of our neighbours who thought that a family member should be given the bungalow we were given due to my medical issues and is very vocal that there is fuck all wrong with me, we are dole dossers and they will keep reporting us until ‘they’ see sense, I’m assume ‘they’ is the DWP and the LA who allocated the bungalow to us.

Finderscrispy · 23/12/2017 11:30

Contact citizens advice to see if you are entitled to any benefits if you are on a low income. You’ve not really given anyone enough info to advise you properly, you might only be working 16 hours but you don’t say if that’s at minimum wage or at £30ph and you’ve not said if you have any other sources of income.

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 11:31

Should of known the word Goady would appear by pg 2 of thread!
At least it's goady toad as opposed to goady fucker!!!

OP posts:
Lunde · 23/12/2017 11:32

Have you checked whether you are eligible for other in work benefits?

Guardsman18 · 23/12/2017 11:35

OP, I understand what you mean and apologies if this has already been said.
A few years ago, I worked 15 hours (low income - nothing to do with the amount of hours. If I was a brain surgeon I'd be on a fair wage even at 15 hrs iyswim!)

The bill was crippling me at the time. I asked council to send me a form, filled it in giving wage slips and outgoings and then the amount was reduced. The 25% allowance is done 'automatically' (electoral form) but you have to ask for the form for the reduction.

I hope this makes sense. I know people get cross when others ask about reduction of council tax etc, we don't make the rules.

Please ring them next week and ask for the form. Good luck

JacquesHammer · 23/12/2017 11:36

The only thing I qualify for is the single person discount

So you in fact get a discount

Was hoping someone might come on here in a simular situation but obviously not

Single working parent here. I quite rightly only get the single person discount.

But thanks to the helpful comments and no need for anyone to post further

Yeah doesn't work like that

Lovemusic33 · 23/12/2017 11:37

Ignore the nasty comments.

It all depends on your situation, I’m a single mum of 2, I work part time, both my dd’s are registered disabled which makes it hard for me to work more hours (one of my dd’s Doesn’t sleep well so I’m up in the night and tired during the day, I also have to attend appointments). I get a reduction in my council tax but still have to pay quite a bit. I do understand how hard it is and people don’t seem to understand that sometimes working more hours makes you worse off, people will say ‘tough, you should be working’ but at the end of the day you are going to do what’s best for your dc, if working more makes it hard to afford to feed your child then why would any one chose too? The government make it really hard for people on low income to take on more hours.

Have you been online to check you are claiming everything you are entitled too?

It’s not easy for OP to just go and find a better job, she needs to fit a job around her dc which isn’t easy and jobs are not just readily available to jump into, she may not drive which makes things tricky. Being a single parent to young children isn’t easy and it doesn’t make you as employable.

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 11:42

Thanks lovemusic. As this is mumsnet I knew I'd get a fair few Venemous snakes but I've had some helpful and understanding comments so thanks for those.

OP posts:
Flippertyjibbetty · 23/12/2017 11:43

Apply for a reduction based on income (I know a pensioner who doesn't pay but think that's cos of receipt of a specific benefit?).

Apply for reduction/ reassessment of tax and. I did this successfully for our previous place based on the advice on Money Saving Expert.

Council tax is quite a regressive tax, its unfortunate.

greendale17 · 23/12/2017 11:45

This reply has been deleted

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maddiemookins16mum · 23/12/2017 11:46

Do you want some salt with that chip?

ohreallyohreallyoh · 23/12/2017 11:47

wow. The hatred of a) single parents, b) people who earn minimum wage, c) people who claim any kind of benefit or tax credits really does live on, doesn’t it.

Just ignore, OP. I spent too many years working myself into the ground to try to avoid all the negativity. Now I have no money, no stress and actually see my children. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and all that.

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 11:47

greendale17 words fail me.

OP posts:
ohreallyohreallyoh · 23/12/2017 11:48

Yeah it is the governments fault you decided to have a child that you cannot support

Yeah, we should all have had crystal balls, eh?

ohreallyohreallyoh · 23/12/2017 11:48

Yeah it is the governments fault you decided to have a child that you cannot support

Yeah, we should all have had crystal balls, eh?

Lovemusic33 · 23/12/2017 11:51

greendale people have children all the time, quite often when they fall pregnant they are in a happy relationship and are financially stable, sadly things can change very quickly and you can find yourself in a poor situation, raising a child alone with no financial support from the father. Do you think OP put herself in this position on perpous? I really hope you never have to expereance becoming disabled or finding you have lost your job Hmm. I guess all the people living in the streets should stop moaning too, obviously they should all go and find jobs and stop making poor decisions.

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 11:51

Sadly there is a great hatred of single parents and anyone receiving any kind of benefits as this thread shows.
No one knows the future and plenty of people who were smug and looked down there noses at others had the rug pulled from under them.
Yet again this has turned into a benifit bashing thread and is what puts people of posting for advice.

OP posts: