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Original poster

Council Tax Benefit Application relating to Universal Credit

31 replies

mummytippy · 01/04/2020 16:43

I'm sincerely hoping someone can help me.

I have just had it confirmed that after being Furloughed my application for Universal has been successful.

I'm now wanting to apply for Council Tax benefit but I don't have a breakdown as yet of what my Universal Credit payment is made up of.

My assessment period is from today's date 01/04 - 30/04 with my first payment from them being due on 06/05/20.

There is an immediate advance available (which is more than what the monthly benefit will be) but I still need to sit and work out my outgoings for the foreseeable before deciding whether I need to access that.

My question is, do I have to wait a month (until I get my UC statement on 02/05) for the breakdown so I can complete the very detailed application form my local council has online?

My local Council are deferring the new year's Council Tax bill if need be, but Id rather submit a claim sooner rather than later and pay what is due when it is due if at all possible.

Any advice on this would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance

OP posts:
Whatwedontknow · 01/04/2020 16:46

No make a claim now it can be adjusted later when it is eventually processed.

Babyroobs · 01/04/2020 16:47

You will need to make an application to your local council for council tax support. I think they then communicate with Uc.

adviceatthislatestage · 01/04/2020 18:31

Local authority benfits advisor here

Make your coin for council tax support/reduction now

Your claim should start next Monday and if you was in our LA we'd assess you based on notional income or whatever you currently have, eg: child benefit and most recent payslip. Once your universal credit award comes in we'd reassess based on that information

There is also additional funds being made available for council tax payers. Our LA is still working out how best to administers this, so check yours as each LA may have a different proposal

Hope this helps - but please do not delay making your claim

adviceatthislatestage · 01/04/2020 18:36

Our LA is also allowing people to defer for a few months but it's not automatic (yet)

Finally for anyone already in receipt of housing benefit (ie, not UC for rent) and /or council tax support, please let the council know ASAP that your circs have changed so your claim can be reassessed.

ivykaty44 · 01/04/2020 19:14

Put in your council tax relief today ASAP and to anyone applying for UC do them both at the same time ASAP

Council tax benefit will apply from the day you apply, it won’t matter that you haven’t got the UC details - but send it in as soon as you get them, even if you’ve already sent in all the evidences they ask for

Don’t ever wait to collect the evidence - as that will cost you, submit your claim and worry about getting everything else in with 30 days.

Obviously if your UC is longer than 30 days you can’t help that

Original poster
mummytippy · 01/04/2020 19:18

Thank you all

and thank you to @adviceatthislatestage

I did a calculation online with my LA prior to having my UC application confirmed as successful and it said I wasn't eligible. This was based on my usual wage prior to being furloughed - before 20% deducted.

I mentioned this outcome to the Job Centre advisor who advised me to do the calculation again but as I have already said, there are questions asking for the breakdown of UC I cannot answer as I don't have a statement yet... Eg,

The assessment dates: from and to...
How much is the total amount awarded?
How much of it is for housing?
How much of it is for a child/children?
How much in earnings was the payment based on?
Is there a carer element? and
Is there a portion of it for a disabled child?

The Job Centre adviser told me the amount I will get on 06/05 so could I enter that amount and then just put zeros in the other boxes on the form?

OP posts:
Original poster
mummytippy · 01/04/2020 19:22

Thanks @ivykaty44

I hear what you're saying and that's what I'd like to do...apply at the same time.

The problem I have is that based on the evidence I have...
my payslips, I'm not eligible.
Also, I'm missing my last 2 payslips (paid weekly) as my employer has not posted them out.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 01/04/2020 19:26

Don’t worry about not having the payslips / just apply

Are you applying online for the council tax relief?

You may well find there is a box at the end of the online application- so in that box write
I don’t have these payslips but now my circumstances have changed & I have been furloughed My wages were paid into my bank account and my employer has not yet sent my last two payslips

ivykaty44 · 01/04/2020 19:29

I take it you have the other 3 wage slips? Which will give your National insurance number. Do you have 2 months bank statements for all your accounts?

Original poster
mummytippy · 01/04/2020 19:47

@ivykaty44

Yes, I'm trying to apply for Council Tax benefit/relief which you have to do separately from UC.

The last payslip I have is dated 19/03/20 which was for the week worked up to Friday 13/03/20. It has an element of overtime on it so it isn't a reflection of my new furloughed circumstances.

Yes, I have my bank statements... my bank will show my new payment amount tomorrow which will be the reduced amount for being furloughed from last Tuesday.

OP posts:
Original poster
mummytippy · 01/04/2020 19:48

@ivykaty44 yes I'm applying online

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 01/04/2020 19:50

So pop all that in the council tax reduction/relief form - there is bound to be a box at the end for further information and submit the form so that the benefit starts from today

ivykaty44 · 01/04/2020 19:52

Don’t forget your wage slips will have your year to date earnings, so they can see what you earn in a year from last April, added to which your new pay will be on your bank statements

Original poster
mummytippy · 02/04/2020 08:24

I tried again without success and the section where the Universal Credit (more information) is will not let you enter the overall total and leave the other fields blank or enter 0.00. It just comes up with red !!! and won't let you proceed.

Very frustrating.

OP posts:
AtAmber · 02/04/2020 08:54

CTS advisor here. Does the form ask if you have made a claim for UC? if so put no to being in receipt of UC and tick that you have made a claim. If not just put £0.01 where it asks for amounts and put a note at the end that you're waiting to hear about your claim. It doesn't really matter what you put in because you will need to provide your UC award when assessed

Original poster
mummytippy · 02/04/2020 09:09

Thanks @AtAmber

I originally completed the application before my claim for UC was confirmed so I answered 'no'. As a result I was told I'm not eligible.

After having my application confirmed by my work coach, they said to go back in and change it, which I did and now I can't complete the 'detailed' questions as I won't actually receive the first payment of UC until 06/05. I won't get my first statement with the breakdown on until 02/05 although they did give me the figure I am projected to receive.

OP posts:
AtAmber · 02/04/2020 09:49

Will it let you put 0.01 as the amounts?

AtAmber · 02/04/2020 10:06

If it still won't accept it ring your housing benefit department and ask them to fill it in with you over the phone.

Original poster
mummytippy · 02/04/2020 12:12

Hi @AtAmber thank you for your further reply.

I sent a message via the Journal in the UC website asking my work coach but haven't had a reply so I'm going to try what you have advised.

OP posts:
Original poster
mummytippy · 02/04/2020 12:26

I have entered 0.01 in all of the boxes and the form seems to have accepted this

OP posts:
Original poster
mummytippy · 02/04/2020 12:38

It is giving me an advisory figure of 13.14 per week in C Tax benefit and this is based on me entering 0.01 in each box on the UC question.

I'm wondering if I'll still be eligible as the provisional figure UC have advised is hundreds of pounds? If that makes sense.

OP posts:
AtAmber · 02/04/2020 12:44

It will have done the calc on the figures you entered but that is just a provisional figure. They will assess it when you receive your UC and this will depend on whether there are wages included. I'm glad you've bèen able to submit it now.

Original poster
mummytippy · 02/04/2020 12:45

I've just had a reply from a work coach at UC...

'' Until the end of your first assessment period which ends 29th April we don't know what your entitlement to Universal Credit will be. After the 30th April a payment statement will show on your account (under Payments). This will provide you with the breakdown information you require. Until that date we are unable to provide this ''.

OP posts:
Original poster
mummytippy · 02/04/2020 12:56

Hi @AtAmber I've been furloughed so some wages I guess will be included. I don't know whether to wait (I know everyone is advising me not to) but then I could submit actual figures.

Unfortunately I also have a small outstanding amount from the year 2019/20.

OP posts:
AtAmber · 02/04/2020 13:20

No, don't wait. It doesn't really matter what you put on the form because they can't assess it until uc is in payment but you need to get the claim in now.