Council Tax

[jacob]

Hello to the fourm.
Dear Sir /madam
I had been in and out of work for some time now and to be honest it's the first time i had to sign on January 2011 to claim housing Benefit and Council Tax
.
Signed on got my council tax and rent paid first time in my life, found job only temporary for 5 weeks.

So after 5 weeks had to sign on again, to be fair the council were very quick both times no complaint.

Got letter last week

Council tax Benefit has been paid until 1st April 2011 based on the unrevised details, therefore the resulting overpayments for the period 21st to the 25th February 2011 was not caused by official error and is recoverable.

The excess Council Tax Benefit for the period 25th February 2011 until 1st April 2011 occurred because benefit was paid in advance for this period. The overpayment for this is therefore also deemed to be recoverable.


I done everything by the book, the council paid two months in advance total figure £248.27 for my council tax benefit.
Then sent me a letter to tell me that I had to pay to pay the remainder of £15.73 which i did, They paid me the full months money for my rent which was fine. All money has been paid to landlord.


Lost job again because it was only temporary for 5 weeks, signed on again and got a letter saying that i owe £119.54 pay now and also £4.17 on the 1-5-2011 then 1-6-2011 £5.00


I contacted the council today and was told they paid two months’ worth of Council tax for me while I was out of work and it was not their problem that I found a job and now i am liable for £119.54..


I spoke to the council today that i paid my council tax each month when I was working, to be told by the Council worker that because i paid November and Decembers council Tax in full, it is not the case that the payments for November and December were paid (something is not right)



I have no money and small family any advice on the above would be nice thank you.


Regards


Jacob

[redman]

Re: Council Tax

Hi Jacob

From what I understand, you claimed council tax benefit which was paid from the benefits department to the council tax department in advance. After this payment was made, you then found employment which resulted in an overpayment of council tax benefit for the period when you started work to the date that the benefits department paid the council tax until. If this is correct, then you are not being asked to pay council tax again, just to repay the amount due for the days that you were in work.

Housing Benefit is different. This is paid in arrears rather than in advance. This is because it gets paid to the claimant or his landlord. From what I understand, you are not being asked to repay housing benefit as this would not have been paid in advance like the council tax benefit was.

Hope this helps!

[jacob]

Re: Council Tax

Hello
Thank you for this answer once i start work again, do i pay back all the houseing benefits and council tax back out of my months pay.

Thanks

Jacob

[WendyB]

Re: Council Tax

Yo could probably come to an arrangement with them to pay in affordable instalments.

[redman]

Re: Council Tax

You should never have to repay any housing benefit unless you have failed to notify them promptly of any change in your circumstances (ie; starting work and not informing them immediately)

Council tax benefit is awarded and paid differently so they might ask you to make repayments when you go back in to work. This would be calculated on a daily basis from the date you start work til the date of which the benefit was paid. However, this also depends on which council it is that you are dealing with! Moral of the story is to inform them of any changes as soon as you become aware of them and follow it up in writing or email as proof!