Council tax benefit-advice needed.

[tawnyowl]

Have allways managed to pay council tax but in the last two years i have been taken to court.Last year after being to court managed to pay it.
This year i have been taken to court again but have not been able to pay it.
Now i have been sent a Council tax information request.
We have been on Tax credits for a while due to having 7 children but only claim for one now.
My business (building trade) is terrible at the moment for me personally, but even working as i am can not give it up i have done it for 25 years.
We have been taken to court for repossesion but managed to get it suspended due to help on here.
After paying mortgage which is 650-probably just about takes up most of our available money.
Am also struggling with water but thats another matter.
All options of borrowing have gone-i have done that in past and have had help on here for that as well.
I dont want to give up work-what there is and am just asking if anyone knows if i would be able to claim council tax benefit or has similar experiance.Just cant carry on like this.

[emmaf01]

You can get the application form from your local council but it will not be backdated. Having been to court, supply the court with an incoming and outgoings breakdown (I think there may be a template in the debt section).

If the court can see what your honest financial situation is (and you need to be brutally honest with no promises) they are usually sympathetic.

It might be worth a visit to your local council welfare rights officer, both for the council tax benefit and to see if there is anything else out there to support you.

Keep your chin up, Tawnyowl. Hopefully you can get some help.

[Billyhunt]

Hi Tawnyowl,

Council tax is awarded if you are on low income so it would be worth going to your local Citizens Advice Bureau and asking for a benefit check to make sure you are claiming all you are entitled to. They can also do a what if calculation and see where you would be if you werent working etc. They can also give you debt advice or help you plan your finances to cover your outgoings.
Regarding the water rates, some companies offer discretionary payments for hardship but this might depend on being in reciept of certain benefits. Worth contacting them to see or again speak to CAB regarding this.
Good luck.

[tawnyowl]

Thanks for advice.

[tawnyowl]

managed to catch up ,to complicated to sort out,try to sort out one thing at the time.self employed income up and down like the worlds biggest yoyo.At least for now arrangment made is being kept to.Caught up with water as well.Priority debts-have to keep them up to date

[KJD]

Well done TawnyOwl. Have seen how bad things have been for you and really admire the way you keep going despite it.

Good luck