Council tax

[spidermomma]

So my council tax has always been deducted for having a disabled child, I mow have 2 that are really poorly. I recently got dla for 1 of my children

For the last 8 months my council tax has gone from "been fully paid" to owing £7,200, 80,150. Even owed euros at one point. It's never made sense and changes sometimes twice a month and they've never said why it changes all the time as my circumstances never have. But they say they have ? They really havnt though!
I got a letter yesterday saying I now owe 400 in the next 2 months ?!?!!
AIBU to think their taking the piss ? They've said the dla is an extra income so I owe 400 by March ? Iv only had 1 payment of it as it is an I just about get half of that and I'm sure it's ment for the child's benefit not the council? We was going to use it to save for a little car to get them to and from hospital every week. Really annoyed at this! I spent half of that in travel expenses getting to and from hospital in the past 4 weeks. Was their 3 times last weekend and it's not our local hospital it's in a totally different city to us a good hour away.
Can they actually do this ? Xx

There's no point in your Mum calling, they can't talk to her unless you have authorised them to do so in writing.

Your council tax is charged annually not monthly. The period goes from 1st April to 31st March. Your bill should arrive in March and it generally splits the bill into 10 monthly payments so you pay from April to January and have two months off. You can ask for your payments to be split over 12 months.

Only adults count for council tax purposes so if there is only one adult in your property you automatically get a 25% discount.

The problem is that when you have council tax reduction (it's not a benefit it's a reduction) and your circumstances change during the year, you end up with less time to pay the new amount because the months left to pay are reducing and they have to give you two weeks notice of the new amounts. If you are paying by dd, it's very easy to miss a payment date during the recalculation and a small increase can end up with large payments due at the end of the period.

If your council tax keeps changing it's likely to be because HMRC have sent notification that your income has changed.

The council tax for the year (from 1st April 20 - 31st March 21) needs to be paid by 31st March 21 and most councils will not let payments go over to the next tax year because your new bill starts on 1st April and that will be harder to pay if you are still paying last year's bill.

The exception is if they take you to court and get a CCJ, then they will accept small payments. If they go down this route make sure the payments you agree leave you enough to pay next years council tax.

CAB will be able to advise. Alternatively call the council tax team, stay calm, ask them to explain the changes, tell them why you are concerned that the changes are wrong and ask them to recalculate or talk you through your options. They should be able to help, providing you don't kick off at them and they have people answering the phone who know what they are talking about. (Unlike my local council who have given all the reception and customer service staff half a day's training and put them on the council tax phones!)

Thanks for all your advice. Iv just been going through my last letter and it says on one page I owe £402 and then on the next I owe £358 ?
Really doesn't make sence I'm going to call them again tomorrow and see what they say as Iv flagged it up before and then if I don't had any luck il contact CAB
Thanks x

You can get more UC now you get DLA....you can get a disabled child element and possibly a carers element depending on level of DLA

Could you block out your name and address and anything identifying and show the bill on here?

Some councils have recently merged to form 5 large councils I believe which has changed things and with this, a reduction in billing has been removed eg receipt of PIP used to automatically mean a 50% reduction but now you only may qualify if you prove that one room is used for the sole use of that person for physio, care etc.

Add into that mix, any other payment that may have been made, it all get so confusing because they send out a revised payment system and so it goes on and on!!

I suggest you call the council and ask for them to let you know what payments have been received and when and then you have a starting point with taking it to the CAB.