Council Tax

[EverythingAllatOnceAllTheTime]

Does Labour plan to scrap the single person council tax discount?

They are kicking the pensioners hard it seems

It's not true to say adult social care is non existent. If people have no money and need care either in their homes or in a care home then it is paid for.

@Bumpitybumper Getting help from social care is a major battle. Many people pay high council tax but then don't get help if and when they need it.

With single childless/childfree people. They often pay more throughout their working lives - taxes funding other people's kids, so are entitled to something back if/when they need social care. Especially considering being single makes it harder to save money (i.e. for future care needs) due to paying mortgage or rent on a single income, only 25% council tax discount etc.

Anyway, the childless/childfree are statistically a minority group. Many single people have children.

Rubbish, they ve committed to the Triple lock and have extended the winter hardship fund.
Pensioners overall are the richest demographic going and those that need help can get it.

Plus, as well you know, the SPD isn't even being removed, as per Rayners reply to Kemi Badenough

Pity all those moaning now kept quiet when student loan threshold reduced and payment period extended from 30 to 40 years oh and super hi interest rate charges.

Oh please don't sully the thread with facts!

The misinformation on this thread is so annoying

The State Pension right now is below the tax threshold. Anyone on the State Pension only with no other source of income will pay NO income tax for the foreseeable future.

If and when the State Pension rises above the threshold, pensioners on State Pension only will have to pay a few pounds a year in tax.

It's a bad group to pick on though.. as they are finding out !
I actually agree with the fuel payments being means tested myself , but they do seem to have it in for them

I do actually remember the poll tax, and the rates before that. I'm not convinced the poll tax was right, but I'm also not convinced the current council is

I think scrapping it altogether would be better with an increase in income tax.

It's not true to say adult social care is non existent. If people have no money and need care either in their homes or in a care home then it is paid for

Well yes people are entitled to it, they are also entitled to NHS dentistry too!
Care packages can be extremely difficult to obtain, one reason why med fit people are left in hospital, staff turn over v high and patients can be left with un covered time slots, which are usually only 45mins long.

Needs far better funding and i hope Reeves has some imaginative ideas to get some of the v wealthy to pay for it.

So you are actually in favour of taking benefits from the more well off pensioners?

You obviously have experience and insight here, I don't work for a council, so I will defer to your expertise. But, let me get this right:

It's claimed falsely by a huge number of people.

How do you know this? And if you do know who isn't being honest, then you'd be able to charge the correct amount for the household.

Is paid to anyone living alone even if they are a millionaire.

Yes, I understand this. But most single people are not millionaires. Far from it. And you're much less likely to be one if you live on your own.

Would be better spent on either reducing everyone's council tax

Right, so you're saying that as an adult who lives alone I should pay more (per person) than, say, a household of 4-5 people who use more services?

There is plenty of evidence to show that single/solo living people already pay more to live - food, transport, etc. than 'average families'. It's already unfair.

CT can work but it needs rebalancing, so those with v expensive higher band houses, actually pay more proportionately, at the moment, they can have a house worth 3m but pay only 3x more than someone in a 300k house down the street.

But they wont do this because it'll mean those in power will have to stump up more.

Just in case anyone from Labour is reading this.

Message to Labour - this is a nasty, mean idea to punish people who live alone. It disproportionally affects single parents, disabled people, etc.

It's disgusting that Labour might be considering it. Bring this in, and I'll never vote for you again, and I won't have forgotten by the next election.

I need to calm down now, but I am really, really angry about this idea.

Calm down, Rayner has already said its not happen.

@iwishihadknownmore but that wouldn't necessarily reflect their ability to pay.

You could have a millionaire in a low band house (or at least a very wealthy pensioner) or a family struggling by in a bigger house.

I really hope not. Single people don't use as many resources as couples/families. I wish RR would claw back money from MP's enormous expenses. Last year RR herself claimed over £2k electricity for her second home yet grudges pensioners £200 each. House of Lords should not get such high amounts to attend and certainly not subsidised lunches with wine when young DC go hungry. It's truly shocking. If I was PM first thing I'd do is make those in the house of Lords buy their own lunches and cut their expenses. I'd cull them back too make them retire at 70.

If we start getting into who pays the most Council Tax and used the least services then it will almost always be the rich. Even if they have kids, they are more likely to pay for private schools etc that alleviate the burden on the state. They are also less likely to need and qualify for adult social care when they get old.

The single and child free may well use less services in terms of education but they may well require more social care when they get old and sick as they won't have such big family networks to rely on. Partners and adult children often take on the carer role that would otherwise be fulfilled by expensive state funded carers.

What is the rationale for someone paying so much more just because they happen to own a more expensive house? Why should they pay 10x more than someone with a £300k house?

Other than just wanting to tax the rich (again), I struggle to understand how on a rational level this can be explained.

I've got a second home and pay full council tax on it. After 1 year I had to pay double council tax on it because it is empty a lot as I don't want to rent it out. It's not in a tourist area either.

I don’t think Rayner has said this? And she is quite capable of changing her mind anyway, more Tory black holes to fill, didn’t want to, etc etc

Just how are single people expected to find the money for this along with all other increases . Wages go up 4% and this is a 25% hike . Ridiculous.

The word is Tax, like income tax, VAT etc

Its not a charge for services

Its based on the property value so the more your house is worth the more you pay

Oh and generally the better off the area the more public money gets spent in it

How the hell are single people expected to find an extra 25% council tax?? I know there will be people who say "well you'll just have to downsize!" But what if we're already living in the lowest band property?? Ffsake, if this goes ahead, it will literally push people who are already struggling over the edge. What is the point of working, just to pay the ever increasing bills?

I promised myself I wouldn't drink for a few weeks, but I'm seriously tempted to have a very large glass of wine! Any other single dwellers care to join??

I totally agree with you , you've every right to be angry

Why should it be based on the value of your house? No other tax is

Ability to pay would be better, surely

It's also based ( I believe) on house prices from the 90s ! If it was based on house prices now it would be even more money ( I think this is correct )