Turned down for council tax discount when on UC

[dyzzie]

So for context I live with my adult son. I work full time and he is in UC while looking for a job. He was advised that he can get a discount on his share of council tax. So he applied on council website and quoted our CT number. They rejected saying that ‘he is not liable’ . It is only my name on the CT bill itself however we pay the 2 adult full amount currently.

Does anyone know how to actually get the discount (on his share) he is entitled to? Do we have to actually put his name on the bill itself?

I have checked the rules on the council website and it appears that he is eligible but they are not making it easy.

Anyone in same position that has successfully got a discount? How do you do it? Thanks for
reading

I would assume obviously his name needs to be on the bill, as at the moment he isn't paying council tax as far as they are aware

Council Tax isn’t based on shares per person. It’s based on the size of the house, with a discount applying if you live alone.

I don’t think you can apply for a discount on his “share”. Might be different if the bill is in his name, but seeing as you work full time, I’m not sure if he’d be eligible.

you talk about "his share" of the council tax but it doesnt work like that. The home-owner/registered tenant is solely responsible for the council tax and the amount they have to pay depends on household income.

Do you think your son might get a job offer soon?

We get UC but our household income is too high to receive a council tax discount. It’s not as simple as not paying council tax if you’re on UC.

Firstly you need to look at liability for council tax. Should he be named on the bill.

Secondly you need to understand discounts and exemptions. Being on UC is not a reason for this.

Then you’d need to consider whether to apply for council tax support based on low income. That would reading depend on the household income.

He doesn’t get a discount unless it’s his own property. Your name is on the house not his. Yes you pay for him in the property but that’s because he lives there he doesn’t own the property. Once or if he moves out then the discount will be applied to wherever he lives.

There is a hierarchy of liability with owner/occupier and tenant at the top. On that basis you are the liable person and pay the Council Tax.

If he were the liable person and claimed a reduction your income would count. How exactly that works will depend on your Council's discount scheme; in England they're all different.

As you are the liable party for Council Tax you are the one who needs to apply for something called a second adult rebate( name may be slightly different in different local authorities)

you claim if from the department ( often benefits) that deal with Council Tax Support. It’s claimed as the second adult is on UC/low income

the maximum amount of reduction is equal to 25% single person discount

Second adult rebate was a firm thing where second adult was on means tested legacy benefits like Income Support or JSA.

Under UC their income is taken into account and rebates are not automatic. Council may have their own unique rules; CTR is a complete nightmare in England as every Council makes up its own rules.

Managed Migration to UC threw up all kinds of irrationality, particularly for people on UC with Transitional Protection where they'd otherwise. have been worse off under UC.

Thanks. That seems logical to at least get the 25% discount. He cannot afford 25% even which is around £50 a month

Will look into this thanks. Think all councils will try and wriggle out of giving a discount where they have historically..

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/council-tax/check-if-you-can-get-a-second-adult-rebate-on-your-council-tax/

looks like UC is a qualifying benefit

alot of councils only doing second adult rebate for those who are liable of pension age now :-(

Depends on other factors too, also an adult non dependent in the household changes things.

Totally correct. We get a small amount of UC, my husband is severely disabled, I work, and we receive a discount due to medical room in our home for him which involved a home visit assessment by council tax assessor, but I still have to pay £170 a month council tax.

his name needs to be on the bill with yours and both your incomes will be taken into account

I think that article is slightly ill presented.

If first covers the case of pensioners. Some pensioners, if they're in a mixed age couple where one is over pension age and the other is not, get Universal Credit even though it's nominally a working age benefit.

The text goes on to list 4 further benefits that get a 25% discount but three of those, Income Support and the Income Based/Related versions of JSA or ESA have been replaced by UC as part of Managed Migration.

It's specific that UC is not a passport to a 25% discount. It's treated as income and in many/most English councils that discount will be nil or nugatory.

Really? I’ve never heard of that. I thought council tax is based on the value of the property/location.

Tax discount is worked out in more than one way.

1- single occupancy/disabled tenant
2- overall household income

im assuming you earn to much to qualify for a discount