Bedroom tax

Amarie78

Hello the council put me and my daughter into a 3 bed house knowing it will be to big plus the bedroom tax charge is £86 for a bedroom I'm never going to use which with everyone struggling right now I am 1 of them plus £27.00 service charges I'm having to pay aswell nobody seems to be listening to me 

poppy123456

Why did they allow you to move into a 3 bed, if you only needed a 2 bed? Do you claim housing benefit or Universal Credit for help with your rent?

Amarie78

I have no idea why they put me in a 3 bed house as I just came out of an very controlling relationship and was being financially abused aswell I'm on uc but they only pay £523 towards my rent and my rent is almost 700 I have an 9month old little girl to think about aswell I suffer from mental health problems aswell I can't sleep through worrying over money and I don't want to be struggling again like I was wen I was in a relationship 

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Amarie78, welcome to the community. I'm so sorry to read you've been struggling with your housing and nobody's been listening to you.

I hope some of our members will be able to shed some light on what you could try next, but Shelter are often a good place to find advice on these kind of issues too.

You might find this section on Discretionary Housing Payments useful to read through in case it might apply to you. 

I'm going to move your post over to our housing section where members might be able to offer some more specific advice, but I really hope things start looking up for you and your little daughter soon

Amarie78

Thankyou I hope they do 

Cowboyboots23

my Husband and myself live in a 2 bedroom bungalow. We moved just under 4 years ago from a 3 bed house. We were led to believe that we wouldn’t pay council tax as it was an over 60 property and we were both over 60. We didn’t pay bedroom tax for the first 3 years then when I took in a letter with pension update they started charging us £80 month and £21 service charge this meant I was paying more than for a 3 bedroom house. They tried to backdate bedroom tax £3000 but after I went it admitted it was their mistake it wouldn’t stand up in court so they squashed it. My husband and I sleep in separate rooms I am his carer and claim carers allowance. He has a heart problem. Sleeps with a sleep apnea machine which would keep me awake. I only get about 5/6 hours a night anyway. He suffers with rheumatoid arthritis in both his knees and this makes him kick out at night and he groans out loud a lot. He is also sometimes incontinent. I have bursitis in both my hips severe arthritis in my right hip. I now have been diagnosed with a problem with my spine which is ongoing. My husband is on PIP high level mobility and med daily care. With all this they still will not allow us the spare bedroom with no bedroom tax. It’s unbelievable.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/980629#Comment_980629

You mention council tax and bedroom tax, both of those are completely different things. For bedroom tax, you're exempt from that if you're both over state pension age (66)

For council tax, most working age people have to pay something towards this, even when they claim council tax reduction. If you're both state pension age and above and claim Pension Credit you would be entitled to 100% council tax reduction, unless you live with other adults.

As you're unable to share a room have you provided some evidence as to the reasons why you can't share a room? If not then I'd advise you to do that.

Cowboyboots23

sorry I just meant bedroom tax. We are both just turning 64. We cannot share a bedroom either as we both have medical conditions that affect us both. We have tried for not paying bedroom tax but been refused.

jacqui125

my husband is 70 & I’m 65. I will be 66 in September. 2025 do we still have to pay the bedroom tax. I sleep in a separate room & have done since 2002. Due to cancer

Benifits adviser came to house & said if I got a letter of my doctor I would get the reduction 14% Doctor flatly refused to give me one No help to be had. Is there anyone else I could get a letter of to get this bedroom tax removed. Any help please would be appreciated.

Kimi87

Do you rent privately or live in social housing?

Which benefits do you both receive?

Santosha12

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1003989#Comment_1003989

@jacqui125 I don't know the exact answer I'm sorry but if it was your GP who refused I'd ask the Practice Manager/write/ask to meet to ask again and to know the reason they refused.

If it was hospital doctor I'd complain to PALS or, rather, ask them to intervene as you want to understand why they refused. And get secretaries email address to ask why it was refused.

Elaborate on the reason you've asked.

Could Macmillan Cancer Support help.

I'd basically become a nuisance so that it's easier for them to just do it.

I'm sorry you've not received the help. Yet. If you can summon up the energy to really try and get this help I can imagine the help will make a difference to you both.

All the best with it and take care.

jacqui125

I was told if they wrote a letter for me they would have to do a letter for everyone & then where would they be . Policies & procedures were mentioned . Aspire owns the doctors surgery & they don’t do letters for Benifits or social housing. Point blank refused to do a letter . They did a summary of my medications from 2002 & all my treatments. Lots were missed out. The doctor signed the bottom of letter £60 was charged & this letter was worthless

Santosha12

@jacqui125 .... 'where would they be' OMG shocking, appalling. I'm so sorry they're not supportive.

Is it worth going back to your Benefits Adviser (although I'm guessing they're maybe from the council team) but to tell them.

I don't even think Healthwatch can help as I'm assuming that GP surgeries can run it as they see fit.

Is it worth writing to your MP for help? I almost cringe at the suggestion in the current climate.

I think the most sympathetic to your situation could be Macmillan, whether they could bring any influence to bear on the council directly, I don't know.

I recently did a SAR (subject access request) for my medical record/medications etc at GP, didn't pay and got my records since 2020 on email (532 pages) just if you need info in the future but that doesn't help you now re the bedroom tax.

Hopefully someone here might come with better ideas. I'm still going to be racking my brains!

Kimi87

If you answer my questions I will be able to advise.