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Original poster

Do I owe £200/month extra in rent? Should I ignore

27 replies

empatheticpretzel · 14/07/2023 13:30

I have had the letters in the past and ignored as I get housing benefit. I have got another one today
It reads "the weekly benefit award is £301.86" (monthly rent well within this)
"Weekly gross rent/council tax is £351.00"
"Amount you must pay weekly: £49.14"
total payment due by the date below: £1238.93
I was awarded LCWRA and don't think I have to pay council tax anyway? Should I just ignore this.

OP posts:
AllTheChaos · 14/07/2023 13:31

Have you got it confirmed in writing that you don’t have to pay Council Tax? Something from your local council?

MidgeMainCourse · 14/07/2023 13:31

Don't ignore anything.

Can you phone the department and discuss it.

CC4712 · 14/07/2023 13:33

Why on earth would you ignore it? Ring and get the correct advice before you get a mounting bill!

Deathbyfluffy · 14/07/2023 13:33

Why would you ignore them?!
If there's a mistake and they believe you owe them money, ignoring is the worst possible thing to do.

Get in touch, apologise for being a bit silly in the past and see why you're being charged extra.

Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 14/07/2023 13:34

Don't ignore anything. Best thing to do is get a meeting with a Citizens Advice Bureau. They'll be able to go through everything with you and will have direct contacts in the relevant departments.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 14/07/2023 13:41

Who is the letter from?

Original poster
empatheticpretzel · 14/07/2023 13:41

It has become impossible to ignore. They wanted £1238.93 by the 9th but I got the letter today and its passed. I don't even owe council tax because of my LCWRA entitlement and don't really know what they're on about. I will phone them to let them know next week

OP posts:
Iamclearlyamug · 14/07/2023 13:42

Are you in a council property? If so housing benefit should cover the rent aspect.

If you privately rent but receive housing benefit, they will only pay at the rate of your local housing allowance - if your rent is more than that you will have to top it up yourself.

Just because you receive housing benefit does NOT automatically mean you don't have to pay council tax - every local authority has different criteria for exemptions and reductions.

You MUST call them and sort this out, non payment of council tax is a big deal, you can get a criminal record!

CC4712 · 14/07/2023 13:44

I will phone them to let them know next week

Call them today- to avoid worrying about it all weekend!

Lizzt2007 · 14/07/2023 13:51

empatheticpretzel · 14/07/2023 13:30

I have had the letters in the past and ignored as I get housing benefit. I have got another one today
It reads "the weekly benefit award is £301.86" (monthly rent well within this)
"Weekly gross rent/council tax is £351.00"
"Amount you must pay weekly: £49.14"
total payment due by the date below: £1238.93
I was awarded LCWRA and don't think I have to pay council tax anyway? Should I just ignore this.

So your council tax and rent combined is £351, the total benefit they're paying is £301.86, the difference is £49.14 and you should be paying that! You may be receiving full council tax exemption, the shortfall could be in the rent element. But it sounds like they've been telling you this for some time and you've been ignoring the letters and now have significant arrears.

ItWasntMyFault · 14/07/2023 13:51

I'm a Housing Officer. Call them today.

People assume they are getting rent paid but sometimes for whatever reason that stops. If I write to tenants, phone them, visit them etc and they keep ignoring me then the only thing I can do is apply for a possession hearing which then costs the tenant a whole lot more money and stress.

If you call them today you could save yourself a lot of hassle.

WimbledonPimms · 14/07/2023 13:55

Have you applied for council tax benefit? It's not included with uc afaik and with our council you have to apply specifically for it.

Mumtothreegirlies · 14/07/2023 14:01

Iamclearlyamug · 14/07/2023 13:42

Are you in a council property? If so housing benefit should cover the rent aspect.

If you privately rent but receive housing benefit, they will only pay at the rate of your local housing allowance - if your rent is more than that you will have to top it up yourself.

Just because you receive housing benefit does NOT automatically mean you don't have to pay council tax - every local authority has different criteria for exemptions and reductions.

You MUST call them and sort this out, non payment of council tax is a big deal, you can get a criminal record!

You don’t get a criminal record. At worst you
get a ccj which effects your credit but isn’t a criminal record.

patchysmum · 14/07/2023 14:12

I had to pay some council tax when I was on jobseekers so the letter could be right

Invisimamma · 14/07/2023 14:14

It sounds like your housing benefit doesn't cover your full rent so you owe the difference.

euff · 14/07/2023 14:19

Don't ignore anything for a second longer.

Check with council tax - even if you are fully exempt you should have had a council tax letter showing the council tax for the property and your exemption applied and balance of £0 after.

Check with housing/ uc or whatever applies the breakdown of your rent liability and your benefit.

If this shortfall between the rent and benefit is correct you need to make payment. If you can't afford the arrears you need to make a payment plan with the appropriate department.

Thoughtful2355 · 14/07/2023 14:27

eh? you still have to pay council tax on LCRW!! i also have it but still pay council tax!!!

also YES you must pay the 49 a week as it sounds like your HB doesnt cover the full weekly amount. if i was you i would look for someone to help you understand.

Thoughtful2355 · 14/07/2023 14:29

i think your mistaking council tax reduction to not paying... You still pay council tax you just get a reduced bill ... you still have to then pay that bill

BarbaraofSeville · 14/07/2023 14:53

The numbers in your OP seem to indicate that you have been running up arrears and ignoring letters about it for about six months.

Did something about your circumstances change at the beginning of this year?

crowsfeet57 · 14/07/2023 14:54

You always have to pay some council tax. You may get a reduction based on your income, but you still need to pay that amount. You need to apply to your council for "Council Tax Reduction." It's not automatic.

There are two exceptions to paying council tax. One is if you are a full time student and the other is if you suffer from severe mental impairment. In either of these cases you would get a 'disregard.' These situations are administered by your council and are not automatic just because you are on other benefits.

You should contact you council tax department as soon as possible to sort this out with them.

FeigningConcern · 14/07/2023 15:44

Only around 20 of the 269 council tax schemes place UC claimants with LCWRA in a protected group (ie where those who have LCWRA automatically pay no council tax). In all other LAs it will be calculated based on income. As PPs have said you need to contact them. Not paying council tax can lead to bailiffs and criminal prosecution.

VeridicalVagabond · 14/07/2023 15:47

Why wait until next week?! Call now!

Bromptotoo · 14/07/2023 16:46

As PP's say you need to get to the bottom of this.

On the face of what you say the council's numbers show a significant shortfall between your benefit award and your weekly award. It could be right if you've a spare room (bedroom tax), a Non-Dependent Adult for whom a deduction reduces both HB and CTR or the fact that few CTR schemes, LCfWRA or not, pay 100%.

If you can't get your head around the figures after a chat with the Council then try CA or some other advice outfit.

If you owe Council Tax then the Council have some hefty sticks they can beat you with - including bailiffs and ultimately prison.

On the other hand, if there's a mess up somewhere it can be put right.

Either way, ignoring is not a viable option.

Kinneddar · 14/07/2023 16:50

Yeah keep ignoring it. That's a great idea

It's very unlikely you're totally exempt from paying CT but you need to take your head out of the sand & contact them

LIZS · 14/07/2023 17:11

So you owe the difference of £50 pw! How long have you ignored this to accrue such a large amount? Council Tax and rent are priority debts and arrears will generate court action.

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