Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Collaborate · 23/12/2017 11:54

One thing you haven’t mentioned, which is critical, is what in-work benefits you claim, such as WTC, CTC, CB or any others. Also what about child maintenance?

As a PP have mentioned, your earned income may well be a small part of your total income. Without you giving the full picture no one knows whether you’re deserving of sympathy or just deluded.

Given your response to some of the messages on this thread (AIBU) some may think it’s the latter.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 23/12/2017 11:54

Shock fucking hell I am shocked by the venom on this thread! Not the MN I know!

OhLittleBoreOfWhabylon · 23/12/2017 11:54

Don't worry about them OP

I've reported greendale.

JacquesHammer · 23/12/2017 11:58

Sadly there is a great hatred of single parents

I am one Confused

Can you up your hours? I genuinely don't see why a further discount on council tax would be appropriate

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 11:58

How do i get thread deleted? I came on here asking for advice and now feel like total shit. Wish I'd never come on in the first place.

OP posts:
Lovemusic33 · 23/12/2017 11:59

Ignore them user. A year ago I wasn’t working at all, suffering from terrible anxiety and depression, it was a blip in my life and I had to rely on beniffits to help feed my kids (their father left 3 years ago and pays pennies towards there upkeep). I now have a job, it’s not full time but it helps pay some bills and means I claim less. I worked from the age of 14 until my 2nd child was diagnosed with several conditions, I then had to dedicate my time to her. Then DH left and I found it hard to find work as I hadn’t worked for a while, no one wanted to employ me as I had 2 children at home with sn’s and would need time off for appointments and school meetings. Earlier this year I found work and am now self employed so I can work as little or as much as I need too (to fit around the kids). I don’t feel bad for having to claim benefits, I payed my taxes for years so why shouldn’t I get help when I’m in a rut?

Things will get better for you OP, keep an eye out for a better job, they do show up time to time, even if it’s part time but slightly better money it may help.

Annelind · 23/12/2017 12:01

Reading the vile, unhelpful comments here confirms my view that we will never have an equal, caring society. Get in the workhouse, single parents and disabled! Xmas Angry

Bambamrubblesmum · 23/12/2017 12:01

' Are there not workhouses enough? Let them go there....decrease the surplus population' scrooge is alive and well on this thread Hmm

It's a massive failing in child maintenance that is contributing to this social issue. We need a more robust system to ensure children receive financial support from both parents , with enforcement that works. That would be a start.

Stickmangate · 23/12/2017 12:02

Op council tax reduction are all localised schemes now. No one on here can tell you if you would qualify without knowing which council you pay council tax to. The exact make up of you household and your total household income including any tax credits you get. And then they would need to know you local councils scheme.

You say you know someone in the some position as you who gets help. Do they come under the same council? Do you have the same number of kids who are the same ages and have the same needs ie none get dla. Do you both pay the same amount in childcare?
All your circumstances would ha e to be exactly the same for you to compare.

If you think you might qualify re apply this is the only way you will no for sure. You have said you applied previously and didn't qualify they should have told you why ie income too high.

ohreallyohreallyoh · 23/12/2017 12:02

Yes, Jaques, and you haven’t dared ask if you might be entitled to an additional discount/benefit. I guarantee you a SAHM would not have received the same response. Working families do not deserve such derision, single parents can’t do anything right.

Collaborate · 23/12/2017 12:03

If you have 2 children you’d have 470 CTC and 305 WTC EVERY 4 weeks, and CB of 34.40 a week. On top of that you may well get child maintenance.
So total monthly income would be:
Earnings £499
CTC £509
WTC £330
CB £149
Total: £1487 plus child maintenance.

A bit different isn’t it?

AnachronisticCorpse · 23/12/2017 12:03

I am really not sure why you are getting such a hammering. I reckon everyone’s hungover.

There are several different types of discount, and they don’t tend to advertise them. Have a look on your council website and gov.co.uk to see if any apply.

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 12:07

I have one child and get zero maintenance as her dad's in prison and will be for a long time.

OP posts:
babyturtles · 23/12/2017 12:08

That's the awful thing about Mumsnet, people think they're smart but actually can't see beyond the end of their nose and hate people getting free hand outs and help they don't get. It used to be full of intelligent hard working women who sneered at the idiots who thought everyone on 'benefits' had a big flat screen and a goat. Now look at it.

Guardsman18 · 23/12/2017 12:09

I'm baffled by this! Is everyone on here very wealthy or something?!

Original poster
user1490465531 · 23/12/2017 12:10

most of my wages go on topping up my rent as I live near London so rents expensive.

OP posts:
OhLittleBoreOfWhabylon · 23/12/2017 12:13

Some posters on this thread should be ashamed of themselves.

Peace on Earth and goodwill to all (wo)men?

You utter fucking cunts.

Merry Christmas Xmas Biscuit

Jux · 23/12/2017 12:14

Fhs, op, someone gave you an answer really quickly. You can get CTR if you qualify for it, which is not the single person thing. Just apply for it.

I would have asked the person you know in rl what she’d applied for.

maddiemookins16mum · 23/12/2017 12:14

But you came on and made a sneery comment about MNetters with their 50K earning husbands (please feel free to point me in the direction of said husbands, not that I'd swap mine of course).

A lot of people are struggling financially, even (believe it or not) families with both parents working 80 hours a week between them and they don't feel they are entitled to a CT discount.

liz70 · 23/12/2017 12:15

Bloody hell, it's like the Young Tories annual dinner party in here. Hmm

FuzzyCustard · 23/12/2017 12:15

I'd love a council tax discount. My only income is £260 Carer's Allowance, as I am carer for my DH with a complex cancer. Not entitled to anything else. Is there a queue?

Starlight2345 · 23/12/2017 12:16

I am a lp work more than 16 hours . Not full time but certainly don’t need to explain why . I get a discount on top of single parent discount so worth applying with your income info. I would also just hide thread op and apply

JacquesHammer · 23/12/2017 12:18

Yes, Jaques, and you haven’t dared ask if you might be entitled to an additional discount/benefit

I set up my own business to fit around childcare. I'm not entitled to anything. Apart from single person council tax discount.

I presume OP is - quite rightly - taking all she is entitled to. I just don't think an additional council tax reduction is automatically a right - there's plenty of couples who could do with one.

I asked if she could up her hours - that isn't a rude or unpleasant question; surely its the first port of call if you need to increase your income?

Viviennemary · 23/12/2017 12:21

You have had advice OP and asked some pertinent questions so people could help further but you have refused to answer them. You are determined to be offended.

Lovemusic33 · 23/12/2017 12:22

Guardsman I think a lot of people on here are very wealthy judging by the ‘how much was your Christmas food shop’ thread Grin

Let’s hope these stuck up people don’t ever have to expereance poverty.

OP, do you rent? Are you claiming the correct amount of HB? I’m guessing council tax is quite high in London? I live in a expensive area and council tax is crazy, I do get a discount, without the discount I would struggle to pay it.