Such a tedious topic, I’m afraid
My council tax here in Bristol is £ 3,158.10 and I am unemployed.
You wouldn’t believe how many hours my wife has spent phoning up the City Council to get a reduction (which has been granted in the past. However with a change in personnel comes a new rate)
I get UC and PIPs but the money comes in one hand and I hand it over to CC with the other. Any ideas, anyone?
Thx, Roland
Have you made an application rather than waiting for UC to give them the information? Maybe worth putting in an official complaint if you are entitled to it and they are not giving it to you.
@pando Does your wife work?
A topic very dear to my heart (not). This has been the bane of my life for longer than I care to remember and through no fault of my own.
It has been so long that I can’t even remember when/how it started, but vaguely recall there being some link with the infamous “Poll Tax” that Margaret Thatcher’s government introduced. But as I said, it’s a bit fuzz now.
Whilst I don’t claim to be an expert on this, in my experience it is one of the most difficult things to “not pay” and it is quite unfair as well in my view. Again, I could now be totally factually incorrect as my brain is so full of C*** that I don’t always know what is right or what is wrong. It seems stupid to say, but it’s “Well I could be right, or I could be wrong” and that is actually true.
What I can tell you is that it is very difficult to get a reduction or exemption and it is reviewed yearly (since it is an annual tax) and you are expected to notify changes in circumstance (as with all benefits). Also, these days with everything being computerised it is very hard to talk to someone about this at the council’s offices and so it does not surprise me Simonetta is running up the phone bill, though with calls being inclusive in modern day phone charges this might not necessarily be a problem, but hanging on the line waiting to be answered certainly is.
I appreciate so far I have told you nothing that is going to help you.
This might help as I am now focused.
I am really sorry, but I can not think of anything that would help because this is what I call a “wealth tax” - my terminology. So the wealthier you are the higher the tax, but it is capped (or so I believe) as in it is in bands rather than a direct proportion of the property value.
So in a nutshell
There is an anomaly here since, again as I understand it, for some reason, the property bands are based on valuations as at April 1991 (maybe this is when it all started - replaced poll tchax?)
| Valuation Band | Property Value (as of 1 April 1991) |
|---|---|
| Band A | Up to £40,000 |
| Band B | £40,001 - £52,000 |
| Band C | £52,001 - £68,000 |
| Band D | £68,001 - £88,000 |
| Band E | £88,001 - £120,000 |
| Band F | £120,001 - £160,000 |
| Band G | £160,001 - £320,000 |
| Band H | Over £320,000 |
Band D is “the average” I guess and so a quick Google search says the lowest and highest taxes for this band for year 2024/25 are
Lowest - £990 - City of Westminster
Highest - £2543 - Rutland County Council.
I guess this does not help you in anyway, shape or form.
However, in closing as your tax is £3518 this suggests you are indeed living in a high tax band (Band D for Bristol was £2530) and so how you qualify for help I cannot start to imagine.
If I was in this situation, I might have to consider moving to the City of Westminster (or similar) or downsize to a property in a band where I can afford the tax.
I’m sorry Roland - I guess I got carried away and lost track of what it is you require help with. I don’t believe any of this will help you in anyway, but I hope it at least distracted you from the burden of council tax debt.
If you’re on universal credit that may entitle you to a council tax reduction but it likely depends on your savings and any other household income. Each council has their own policy for certain things so it is difficult to advise. Maybe try talking to Citizens Advice re help you could get.
Have you had a stroke ?
That’s why I asked ‘@pando if his wife works. as Council tax is the income of the whole household. If she is a higher earner, no discount is available.
yes ! which makes me feel guilty
so it would seem - yuk
Unfortunately YES a moderately severe stroke (26/42 NIH SS scale)
There aren’t any properties for less than £320k around here
The bungalow opposite me sold for £700k
I’m thinking of living under a bridge?
Do you actually know if you qualify for help? Could look here if unsure.
So if you’re getting PIP why aren’t you paying the reduced rate council tax ?
Really ? My daughter lives with me, she’s a high earner but I still pay reduced rate
I read 120 books on health and wellness ; learnt something (maybe)
But I’m a dummy when it comes to surviving in this world.
Does getting PIP benefits equate to reduced rate Council Tax?
Thanks to all for the help ; this is a subject that stresses me out.
Council Tax + Stroke = Stress
No getting pip doesn’t automatically entitle you to reduced council tax. Have a look at this link it might help you work out if you are eligible or not.
Each Council has it’s own rules, so you need to check with your individual Council.
If your house is adapted for a wheelchair I think there is a Disabilities reduction. I just remembered that, it doesn’t apply to me so I may have it wrong.
We had to have railings and all sorts of things fitted (I still am unable to have a bath) when I came home from hospital (in a wheelchair) and now I walk with a stick and a limp !
You could try to get a benefit review to ensure you are claiming everything you are entitled to. Try CAB and any local disability advocacy service.
Janet