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Managed Migration from ESA Support Group to UC - loss of approx £300 in C/Tax ??

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2 weeks 2 days ago #309630 by KnucleH
Hello,
Could someone please advise why it is that when people from the ESA Support Group migrate to UC, there is a shortfall in Council Tax ? I have received a C/Tax Bill for £300 whereas while I was on ESA, I did not have to pay anything !!!

From my side, nothing has changed, I am still receiving the same amount under UC as when I was on ESA. So what has changed ?

Is it because we lose the Severe Disabilty Allowance when we migrate to UC ?? In which case, that seems quite unfair ?

Has anybody had a similar experience ? I wanted to reach out on this Forum before phoning the Council.

Thank you so much for any clarification.
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2 weeks 1 day ago #309657 by David
Hi KnucleH

Nothing has changed as you say from your side and with the gradual decrease in Transitional Protection almost all UC Migraters will be worse off. But Councils have used the opportunity of the changes to UC as a chance to hike Council Tax particularly for disabled claimants.
You can see the discussion ongoing about this on Rightsnet:-
www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/viewthread/21220/
So you will need to get a copy of your Councils new Council Tax Reduction Scheme and analyse it carefully paying particular notice to how they account for the LCWRA element and if they give a disregard to the first £xx pounds income of a disabled person and what non-dependent deductions there are and if PIP claimants are exempt.
Some people are now £100 per month worse off via the increased C Tax bill.

Let me know how you get on.
David

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5 days 5 hours ago #309948 by KnucleH
Hi David - thank you for your advice. I have read the rightsnet link you sent me and found it informative. I have phoned my local council and they confirmed that they are charging me Council Tax on my Transitional Protection Element as they consider it income.
So I will have to pay it and as you correctly said, I will be like most other members that have done a Managed Migration, £100 worse off than before.

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5 days 2 hours ago #309953 by David
Hi KnucleH

I was actually referring to the C Tax assessment of a disabled persons actual Benefits and not the Transitional Element.
The penalisation of the Transitional Element is another issue and has now been outlawed in Scotland though some English councils are carrying on with this unsavoury and unfair practice. I wonder if its the Councils who have outsourced their C Tax collection to private companies such as Capita.
Here are some Rightsnet threads on the issue:-
www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/1725/Databas...ead/21058/P15/#98963

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/21058/

It should really be highlighted as a deliberately unjust practice in your local area which will affect hundreds and possibly thousands of people.

Let me know how you get on.
David

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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2 days 21 hours ago #310022 by ivyfox
Like you, I have had a completely unexpected Council Tax bill for £350-odd.

I have finally managed to find a contact email address and queried it, after going round the houses on the council website desperately trying to figure out what on earth could have happened.

The council state that 'two months should be allowed for queries' but that 'meanwhile residents should ensure to pay the Council Tax'

I completed MMUC in July or thereabouts, was receiving irESA, in the Support Group, with DIG, live alone.

I also receive PIP (standard DL, enhanced Mob) and for a good few years, my PIP has caused me to be classed by the Council as a Vulnerable Adult and hence receive full CTR.

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2 days 10 hours ago #310032 by David
Hi ivyfox

Which is the Local Authority for your area ?

David

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