Hi
Can someone please help with a query i have received about council tax. I work for a charity and the following has come up.
We have a client who is £4500 in arrears since 2009 at 3 addressees.
They have a mental health condition to which the gp has signed a form saying they are permanent and have been so since an initial 2003 diagnosis and a formal diagnosis in 2009.
They have been unable to manage due to anxiety.
They are a lone parent with children of 5, 16(in school) and 20 (working, but also acts as carer when needed)
They are in receipt of high rate care of DLA and this is until 2017.
The query is.....
The council want the arrears at £250 a month, this is a huge amount and the council admit not having up to date income expenditure.
Can they use the eldest income in means testing even though he does not pay rent.
Although there are arrears, the client was unaware he could claim CTB and when he did he was confused about the amounts he was getting and paid.
He is now classed as vulnerable on the council system, only found out when I called them, they also said that they were under budget and needed to get money back.
He wonders what can be done, he is now tryign to sort his debts but this matter is causing stress.
I am considering the fact they have not treated him in accordance with local policy.
The person dealing with it has threatened a means enquiry, stating they will go in the favour of the council. They dont seem to care about this and I feel taht there has not been a lot of support.
I am sure there is a way that they need to treat vulnerable people like my client. This is so confusing.
They look a s though they will be exempt, but what can be done about paying the arrears.
He is in the process of dealing with his debts, it got out of hand as he could not manage, btu the debts all fall after a diagnosis that created a huge impact.
Any views please ........ am lost as what to do to help
Can someone please help with a query i have received about council tax. I work for a charity and the following has come up.
We have a client who is £4500 in arrears since 2009 at 3 addressees.
They have a mental health condition to which the gp has signed a form saying they are permanent and have been so since an initial 2003 diagnosis and a formal diagnosis in 2009.
They have been unable to manage due to anxiety.
They are a lone parent with children of 5, 16(in school) and 20 (working, but also acts as carer when needed)
They are in receipt of high rate care of DLA and this is until 2017.
The query is.....
The council want the arrears at £250 a month, this is a huge amount and the council admit not having up to date income expenditure.
Can they use the eldest income in means testing even though he does not pay rent.
Although there are arrears, the client was unaware he could claim CTB and when he did he was confused about the amounts he was getting and paid.
He is now classed as vulnerable on the council system, only found out when I called them, they also said that they were under budget and needed to get money back.
He wonders what can be done, he is now tryign to sort his debts but this matter is causing stress.
I am considering the fact they have not treated him in accordance with local policy.
The person dealing with it has threatened a means enquiry, stating they will go in the favour of the council. They dont seem to care about this and I feel taht there has not been a lot of support.
I am sure there is a way that they need to treat vulnerable people like my client. This is so confusing.
They look a s though they will be exempt, but what can be done about paying the arrears.
He is in the process of dealing with his debts, it got out of hand as he could not manage, btu the debts all fall after a diagnosis that created a huge impact.
Any views please ........ am lost as what to do to help
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