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Is it correct that my PIP award doesn't change my council tax support entitlement?

Leigh14

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, but have just received a letter from council tax. I notified and sent evidence when I was awarded PIP, and they are saying the information hasn’t changed my entitlement to CT support as my PIP is already calculated in my income. I am in receipt of UC, LWRCA, single person, my child has just started Uni, so only just sent off the evidence for that.
What I’m querying is, that they are saying PIP is already calculated. Would this be correct?
Council Tax is a minefield in itself I find!,

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Comments

poppy123456

PIP isn't means tested so it's not used in the calculation to your CTR.

Leigh14

I’m really sorry Poppy, and thankyou for such a quick response, but my mind is frazzled on medication that I’m currently on, but if I’m on PIP, can the CT be lowered? I don’t understand how they can say (when I’ve only recently notified them) that PIP is already calculated in my income. Does it warrant a phone call, or are they correct? Thanks.

poppy123456

PIP should not be calculated in your income because it’s not means tested. It should be calculated based on your UC entitlement.

All local Authorities have their own rules for CTR. For my local council my PIP award doesn’t lower my CTR. I don’t pay any council tax this year because my local Authority had extra funding so passed it onto low income families and reduced their CTR even further.
Do you pay any council tax?

Leigh14

Bless you Poppy. Yes I pay council tax. When my son was at sixth form, I was paying £34. Then I received a new bill for Nov which is for £151. Then another bill received saying ££114 for months of Dec and Jan. I have only this week sent them information they required stating my son is in full time university, so I have no idea what, if anything, that will reduce it too.

poppy123456

If your son is a full time student then you will be entitled to the 25% single person discount, as you're a single person. Although this is different to council tax reduction.

Leigh14

Thankyou so very much for taking the time for this @poppy123456.

Leigh14

Thankyou @Username_removed. I’ll look into that.

Leigh14

Have just contacted CT, got cut off, but…. I was told before cut off that DWP had contacted them when I was awarded PIP. Do they even do that? After the cut off, I was left a voicemail saying, PIP is disregarded using my income, so they do use it as income but then disregard it.
Assuming then, that I’m not entitled to any deduction..
I’ve had a quick look on the council tax support scheme 2021, and all I can see so far, is for Daily Living on PIP, which is where you’d be entitled to a deduction. I shall have another look later.

poppy123456

Yes sometimes DWP do share information with your local Authority. The calculation of your PIP award being used and then disregarded is proof that letters like this often make no sense at all.

Leigh14

The letters are just mind boggling!

poppy123456

Indeed. I remember when my daughter left full time education and i applied for the carers disregard, the letter i received made no sense at all lol. I had to ring them for them to explain it.

Leigh14

Do you find though that even when they explain it, it is still confusing? Maybe that’s just me though lol.

poppy123456

No, once they explained it, it made sense.

calcotti

Leigh14 said:

Have just contacted CT, got cut off, but…. I was told before cut off that DWP had contacted them when I was awarded PIP. Do they even do that?

Local authorities have access to DWP data in order to inform local authority decisions about housing benefit and CTR. When thinks are working properly they will pick up changes in DWP benefits and review any applicable HB and CTR awards accordingly.

Leigh14

I’ve emailed Citizens Advice in my area, as they will certainly know what’s what. I’ve more chance of talking to them than the CT office.