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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Re: council tax rebate towards utilities

48 replies

imamumgetmeoutofhere · 02/04/2022 07:34

AIBU about my situation please.

I currently pay our gas and electric bill from my own current account which is in the region of £200 per month, up from £100 a year ago due to the price increase.

My partner pays the council tax bill from his current account, around £220 a month.

Just the other day he was rubbing his hands together saying he was having £150 back from council tax. I was a bit miffed as that's generally being done due to the energy crisis unless I've misunderstood why it's happening?!

Surely that should go to me, either him giving it to me or directly to me as I pay the gas and electric bill?

Just to add we jointly own the property and are both on the electoral roll so jointly liable for the council tax bill.

We have 2 school age children, he works full time and I work part time. He earns around 4x as much as me.

Yes IABU and it doesn't matter who gets the money as it benefits the family

No IANBU, I pay the gas and electric so should get the rebate.

Thanks for your opinions

OP posts:
teenagetantrums · 02/04/2022 07:41

We are splitting our rebate. Seems fair as we split all the bills. My partner just got £120 rebate for the water bill and put half in my account. He should give you half.
Maybe it's time you sat down and reworked who pays what for the bills according to your earnings.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 02/04/2022 07:43

Did council tax go up ?

ImBurtMacklin · 02/04/2022 07:49

And I bet your partner enjoys the two month payment holiday in feb and March too.

Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 02/04/2022 07:49

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Did council tax go up ?
I think around 3%. Not 100% increase like the utilities
OP posts:
Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 02/04/2022 07:50

@ImBurtMacklin

And I bet your partner enjoys the two month payment holiday in feb and March too.
Yep Hmm
OP posts:
Hesma · 02/04/2022 07:52

No voting but YANBU

2pinkginsplease · 02/04/2022 07:53

Our council took the £150 off of the council tax bill so monthly payments are lower. So no cash in hand.

FloralsForSpring · 02/04/2022 07:55

You need to look at your bill split again. Consider a shared account for bills.

Dishwashersaurous · 02/04/2022 07:58

Ignore the council tax as that's a red herring.

Energy bills are only going up. So if you stick with your current arrangement you will be paying double or triple the bills you were paying last year.

So you need a new system.

Given as you live together and have children together by far the most sensible thing is to have a bills account that you both pay into and all household bills including food comes out of

WaterBottle123 · 02/04/2022 07:58

If he earns 4 times more than you why on Earth isn't there a joint pot, given you have been systematically disadvantaged by working part time to raise his children for years?

I bet he doesn't top up your pension or savings either does he? And has more disposable income than you?

Dishwashersaurous · 02/04/2022 07:59

And then agree what you both pay in, so that you get the same spending money left over

Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 02/04/2022 08:10

@WaterBottle123

If he earns 4 times more than you why on Earth isn't there a joint pot, given you have been systematically disadvantaged by working part time to raise his children for years?

I bet he doesn't top up your pension or savings either does he? And has more disposable income than you?

Luckily due to the national insurance credits when claiming child benefit and working part time I've managed to have full NI contributions towards state pension. But you are right, no savings on my side. Luckily also have a reasonable work pension I've always paid into.
OP posts:
WaterBottle123 · 02/04/2022 08:17

@imamumgetmeoutofhere

That's good re pension. However you aren't married, you work part time and are living with a greedy man who is happy to see you go short.

If you split up could you go full time and support yourself? Otherwise you are in a very vulnerable position.

I'd be looking to go full time immediately and building up my savings.

LndnGrl · 02/04/2022 08:18

@teenagetantrums

We are splitting our rebate. Seems fair as we split all the bills. My partner just got £120 rebate for the water bill and put half in my account. He should give you half. Maybe it's time you sat down and reworked who pays what for the bills according to your earnings.
How please? I haven't heard about a water rebate.
teenagetantrums · 02/04/2022 09:23

@LndnGrl
Sorry rebate was wrong word we got a refund as we were in credit and they lowered the direct debit. We had my adult kids living here for a bit in lockdown now they gone obviously our water usage gone down

LndnGrl · 02/04/2022 09:26

[quote teenagetantrums]@LndnGrl
Sorry rebate was wrong word we got a refund as we were in credit and they lowered the direct debit. We had my adult kids living here for a bit in lockdown now they gone obviously our water usage gone down[/quote]
@teenagetantrums Ok thanks, I'm a bit disappointed now 😂 I thought there was something we could apply for 😂😂

PinkiOcelot · 02/04/2022 09:28

@ImBurtMacklin

And I bet your partner enjoys the two month payment holiday in feb and March too.
It’s not really a payment holiday as such though is it? It’s just paying over 10 months instead of 12. Still a yearly bill.

We’re the same in this house. I pay the council tax and he pays the gas and electric. Never entered my head to give him it though. Plus, until now the council tax has always been the bigger bill.

Footballsundays6777 · 02/04/2022 09:29

Are you eligible for the council tax rebate?£200 is quite high a month for council tax so are you in bands a-c?

CharSiu · 02/04/2022 09:33

Since I took early retirement due to health issues we changed the way outgoings are split. I know MN mantra is all money in one pot but it’s not for us. Though my income has reduced we still have some sort of equality in left over money. This is the issue you have and as not married if you break up you are entitled to zero of his savings. Which he has only amassed because you share living expenses.

You are unfortunately the perfect example of why being unmarried and having children is risky.

Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 02/04/2022 09:43

@Footballsundays6777

Are you eligible for the council tax rebate?£200 is quite high a month for council tax so are you in bands a-c?
Bands A-D here
OP posts:
Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 02/04/2022 09:44

@Footballsundays6777

Are you eligible for the council tax rebate?£200 is quite high a month for council tax so are you in bands a-c?
Plus in the most expensive county in the country
OP posts:
Chloemol · 02/04/2022 09:58

The 150 is to offset council tax rises

In October the 200 ‘loan’ from the government kicks in to energy bills, although you will repay that over the next 5 years

As bills are going up I would be looking at opening a joint account, paying all bills from that, and getting them covered by a proportional to salary payment across from each of you so the bills are all paid fairly

Marmite27 · 02/04/2022 10:49

@Chloemol

The 150 is to offset council tax rises

In October the 200 ‘loan’ from the government kicks in to energy bills, although you will repay that over the next 5 years

As bills are going up I would be looking at opening a joint account, paying all bills from that, and getting them covered by a proportional to salary payment across from each of you so the bills are all paid fairly

No it’s not, it was specifically created for energy bills.
Dishwashersaurous · 02/04/2022 15:59

The council tax rebate is specifically for energy bills and is targeted to try and help more people

Dishwashersaurous · 02/04/2022 15:59

It's a-d everywhere in England

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