Hi, My income is due to drop by £220pcm in March (no longer able to claim carers for child)so I thought I would see if I could have a council tax rebate. To cut a long story short they actually owe me £1700 which they will be giving me in a cheque. This is all due to their error, as I should have been having a rebate since last time I applied several years ago. The question is do I have to give this back to my IVA or is it mine to keep? Thanks in advance x
I would imagine this would be seen as a windfall as I would imagine that your IVA I&E has made an allowance for your council tax each month, so if you now have received this back then this would count as extra disposable income and be due to the IVA, but yes as ginger has said, speak to your IP soon
Thanks. I had just thought it might be like when you pay too much to your gas and electric and get it back (on a previous post) as I should not have been paying all my council tax each month and was due a rebate, surely as thats their error its like what I could have been saving each month, basically they had been putting my sons wage down as my income (i dont work) and not classed my daughters disability element in the tax credits
sorry to go on but, surely if as I said my income will be going down by £220 carers and also a further £115 dla = £335pcm that the money would be mine, especially as the CT office has made the two mistakes in the first place when I should have been receiving benefit and was stuggling. sorry x
Hi mumofthree - if they hadn't made the error your CTax payment would have been lower and you would have had more DI for your IVA so it should go to the IVA.
If your I&E budget is set right moving forward then you are no worse or better off with the rebate and the cheque can go towards repaying your debts. If due to the changes your I&E is too tight you need to speak to your IP about getting it reviewed - the cheque may need to be used to top up your payments - etiehr way I would expect to hand it over to your IP.
Keep us posted on the outcome.
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I think this is something you have to sort out with your IP. You need to let them know that your outgoings have gone up as well and it may be that a review is needed.
The CT rebate would be counted the same as the utilities rebate - if you have the £500 threshold then you will probably be expected to pay this across.
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