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Original poster

WWYD- declare or not?

9 replies

LifeIsGreatForUnicorns · 13/02/2022 13:19

My son is doing a London based apprenticeship- he is 18 - salary is £13k
We live 120 miles away but a relative lives near his work. She is elderly and on her own.
He currently arrives Tuesday evening at her house, stays Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday night and comes home for the weekend. He wfh (at family home) on the Monday & Tuesday
He pays relative some money towards gas, elec and internet.
It suits us as this means we have someone keeping an 'eye' on her - she is well past retirement age and has a heart condition - she is not very forthcoming on her health but as DH is only child - we like to know she is ok
Son is not 'typical' 18 yo - doesn't go out partying etc- he's very focused and considerate
Relative is now worried she will lose her single council tax benefit - I am unsure if he is classes as living there or not?
All of his post still comes to the family home as he is here for longer...
Would you declare to the council or not?

OP posts:

delilahbucket · 13/02/2022 13:25

Is he paying board at home as well? This would be something the council would look at as he needs to show permanent residence elsewhere. How much is the council tax discount? Could you afford to sub it seeing as he is effectively staying somewhere for free?

Theunamedcat · 13/02/2022 13:31

Honestly no but I think council tax is an inflexible benefit anyway

girlmom21 · 13/02/2022 13:32

Apprentices aren't included when they're deciding whether you get a single person discount so she's fine - she'd still get the discount even if he lived there full time.

Original poster

LifeIsGreatForUnicorns · 13/02/2022 14:35

They are paid over the £195 PW that is stated on the government website 😞 so think the discount wouldn’t apply

OP posts:

Original poster

LifeIsGreatForUnicorns · 13/02/2022 14:37

He is on the electoral role at our house (where he grew up). Car insurance is at ours too (his car stays here when he’s in London), bank statements etc here too

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 13/02/2022 14:50

I think the limit varies by council so check her local councils terms

Darbs76 · 13/02/2022 19:42

I wouldn’t class him as living there but then might be worth checking. Perhaps you can pay her the difference if she needs to pay council tax for him there

Georgie8 · 13/02/2022 19:51

I think you could legitimately say he was her carer; live-in carers are “discounted” so she wouldn’t lose her single person discount.

ivykaty44 · 13/02/2022 20:01

He/your ds isn't living there, his address, wardrobe etc are at your home and as you say all his post comes to your home.

paying 75% of council tax is not a benefit, its not council tax relief - thats different.

The council tax deduction of 25% is due to only one adult living full time in the property.Council tax is based on property 50% and people x 2 50% and therefore is only one adult full time their is a 25% discount

what would put her mind at rest? could she telephone the council tax department and query this? tell them her relative just stays a couple of nights a week and lives elsewhere - would that help her to know she is not doing anything wrong?

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