COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is Council Tax Benefit?
- Who can Claim Council Tax Benefit?
- How do I claim Council Tax Benefit?
- What Information do I have to give?
- How do you work out Council Tax Benefit?
- How Is Council Tax Benefit Awarded?
- How do I keep my Council Tax Benefit Claim Up-to-date?
- How do I Review my Claim?
- Can i appeal against the decision?
- What are Discretionary Housing Payments?
- Who should I contact for more information?
1. WHAT IS COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT?
Council Tax Benefit helps reduce the amount people pay in Council Tax.
Council Tax Benefit is governed by the Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992
2. WHO CAN CLAIM COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT?
You can claim Council Tax Benefit at any time if you are the resident, liable person to pay council tax. Unlike for Housing Benefit, you can be an owner or a tenant and still claim Council Tax Benefit.
SECOND ADULT REBATES
Second Adult Rebate is Council Tax Benefit for people who may not have a partner but who share their home with someone who:
- Is 18 years or over and
- is on a low income and
- does not pay them rent
All three conditions must be met.
Applications should be made in the normal way. If you require more information, please contact your local area office - see Contact Information for details
3. HOW DO I CLAIM COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT?
All claims for Council Tax Benefit must be made by completing an application form, which can be obtained from your local area office. See Contact Information for details. Alternatively you can download an application form from this web site, complete it and return it to your local area office either in person or by post.
4. WHAT INFORMATION DO I HAVE TO GIVE?
All applications for Council Tax Benefit must be supported with the claimant (and the partner's) National Insurance Number and proof of identity. In addition, we will require evidence of all income and savings.
Where the evidence required is not provided, then we will write to you to request further information. All information should be provided within 4 weeks of being asked to do so.
If supporting evidence is not provided, you may lose out on benefits.
5. HOW DO YOU WORK OUT COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT?
The amount of Council Tax Benefit you receive depends on:
- How much Council Tax you are liable to pay;
- You (and your partner's) weekly income;
- Any savings and investments you (and your partner) have;
- Your age and the age of any member of your family who lives with you;
- Whether anyone else (such as a lodger) lives with you.
6. HOW IS COUNCIL TAX BENFIT AWARDED?
Council Tax Benefit is awarded direct to your Council Tax account, therefore reducing your Council Tax bill. When Council Tax is assessed, you will be sent a revised Council Tax bill showing a reduction in the amount you pay to pay.
7. HOW DO I KEEP MY COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT CLAIM UP-TO-DATE?
When an application is made for Council Tax Benefit, a declaration is signed which confirms that you will advise us of any change in your personal circumstances which may effect your claim.
It is important that you advise us of any changes immediately to ensure that the correct amount of Council Tax Benefit is awarded.
It is the responsibility of the claimant to advise us of any change in personal circumstances.
8. HOW DO I REVIEW MY CLAIM?
When your claim for Council Tax Benefit is determined a fixed benefit period will be set of up to 60 weeks. Before the end of this time, we will send you a review application form. You must complete this form and return it to us with all relevant information/evidence.
If you do not return this form to us, we will stop your Council Tax Benefit - see Keeping your Claim Up-to-date.
9. CAN I APPEAL AGAINST THE DECISION?
If you think that a decision about Housing Benefit is wrong, you can ask us to look at the decision again.
You may have the right to an independent tribunal run by the Appeals Service.
There is a one-month time limit for asking for a decision to be looked at again or to appeal against a decision, which you think, is wrong.
10. WHAT ARE DISCRETIONARY HOUSING PAYMENTS?
If you are receiving Council Tax Benefit but are still having difficulty meeting your Council Tax payments, you may be able to get extra help from the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund.
The Fund has been made available by the council, with assistance from the Government, to enable additional financial assistance to be provided to claimants of Council Tax Benefit where they are not entitled to full benefit but are nonetheless experiencing financial difficulty in paying their Council Tax.
If you wish to be considered for a payment from the Discretionary Housing Payment Fund, you must complete a Discretionary Housing Payment claim form, which is available from your local area office - See Contact Information for details.
11. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?
If you need any information regarding Housing or Council Tax Benefit or Rent Arrears, please contact your local Area Office.
LOCAL AREA OFFICES
- Community Services, Union Street, Rothesay, PA20 0HD
Tel. 01700 501300 Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Community Services, Dolphin Hall, Dunoon, PA23 7DQ
Tel. 01369 708685 Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Community Services, Jamieson Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay, PA43 7HL
Tel. 01496 301301 Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Community Services, Old Quay Head, Campbeltown, PA28 6BA
Tel. 01586 552659 Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Community Services, Scotcourt House, Helensburgh
Tel. 01436 658703 Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Community Services, Breadalbane Street, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA72 6NZ
Tel. 01688 302051 Office Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Community Services, Manse Brae, Lochgilphead, PA31 8QU
Tel. 01546 604764 Office Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
- Community Services, Front Street, Inveraray
Please contact 01546 604764 for opening times
- Community Services, School Road, Tarbert, PA29 6UJ
Tel. 01880 820374 Office Hours: Monday 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
