Who should pay the council tax?

[Cavapoo123]

A couple are moving in together. Person A is moving into Person B’s house.

Person A works full-time, currently pays £1500 in house bills in their own place (rented), will only be paying around £700 once moving into Person B’s house (also rented). Person B has no children. Earns around £2000 per month after tax.

Person B doesn’t work due to ill health, is on disability benefits, also has a disabled child who receives disability benefits. Also receives £120 per month child maintenance. Person B’s benefits will go down by around £800 once Person A moves in, but will be making up some of the money by saving on some of the joint house bills that Person A will be contributing towards.

Person B currently doesn’t have to pay council tax due to disability exemptions, however once Person A moves in, the house will have to pay council tax again which even with the single person discount will be around £190 per month.

Who is responsible for this council tax bill?

You don’t. Both A and B have received a single persons’ discount because they previously lived alone. Once they move in together they are no longer entitled to it.

This is what happens when two people try to move in together but still want separate finances and still see everything as yours and mine…not ours. It’s not fair on either of you tbh so I wouldn’t bother @Cavapoo123

Why don’t you get a credit for the disabled person on your council tax? They are still entitled to a deduction? We get one for my DD who receives PIP.

This. Are they throwing the saved money into the pot or amassing savings due to living off the back of Person B?

Person B would also have to declare the partner to DWP and potentially lose free meals etc for their child as well as other benefits.

Not all disabled people qualify for a reduction. Most councils will consider a reduction of one council tax band, but there has to be a need for an extra room for the use of the disabled person, such as an extra kitchen or bathroom, or they need extra space to use a wheelchair indoors. If one resident has a serious mental impairment then council tax is usually 100% discounted, but only if the only other resident is the carer or spouse of that person.

Which, if you read the post, will be more or less made up with the contribution from A and some saving on the bills

personally they should split it

if not If I was A I would not be moving in

@Cavapoo123

of course they will. Gas, elec, water, will be 1/3 A and 2/3 B unless you are saying Bs child won’t be having lights on in their bedroom, won’t be using any electrical equipment, won’t be taking baths/showers etc. They will be paying towards the child’s rent costs, and tv licence etc.

I see you say later food costs will be separate but don’t kid your self A is paying towards Bs child ,

@Cavapoo123 you haven’t said what your income is after the 800 “loss”?! And I say it like that because it’s not a loss as you are gaining another member to the household who earns 2k…

Hadn’t realised - we get 25% off our bill, as did I as a student until recently.

I suppose it depends how much you want to live together.

I am on UC and if DP moved in with me, I would lose all my UC as he has too much in savings, and he would be expected to support me. He is not on a great wage, not much more then NMW. It simply would not work. We would both be a lot worse off.
But then we have no plans to live together anyway. I have been there and got the T-shirt!.

Like a PP said, you are just not financially compatible. You need to think about your own financial stability, and also your child.

This

Just carry on living by yourself with your child.

Just to say - the amount of reduction in council tax for a disabled person is also affected by whether or not they have savings.