Successfully to UC migrated but have problems and questions.

Hi AnonymousM,

I have heard of this issue with Council Tax Reduction and some Local Authorities taking into account the LCWRA element. Which Council area are you in?
You won't lose your Transitional Protection just from moving area.
Rent payments from lodgers are disregarded completely in UC. Have a look at this informative article by Citizens Advice.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/lodgin...20Credit%20you%20get.

David

Hi AnonymousM,

You will find that assistance with Council Tax from Local Authorities tends to vary with political party. With Labour and Liberal controlled Councils tending to give more assistance to those on Benefits and Tory Councils such as Wandsworth and unfortunately Teignbridge less.
So Teignbridge in their policy document state that those in receipt of the LCWRA element should not be given more favourable treatment than those without and if they are short of money they must go through the Exceptional Hardship Fund which is the fund for rough sleepers amongst others.

Here is an extract from Teignbridge Council policy document--
Following the move to our banded scheme in 2020 there were concerns
expressed around the impact on couple households where one or potentially
both parties had limited capability for work and also households in receipt of the
limited capability for work related activity component within their Universal
Credit award.
4.4 Having reviewed the financial impact on households with these characteristics
there is no evidence that these claimants are less able to afford their council tax
liability than households without these characteristics. The collection rates for
these cohorts are on a par with other Council Tax Reduction claimants with the
majority up to date with payment of their council tax liabilities. Analysis of the
claims for exceptional hardship indicate the majority have sufficient disposable
income to afford their liabilities.
For the minority of claimants who do not have sufficient disposable income, the
exceptional hardship scheme delivers needs-based support comprising financial
and/or budgeting support. The intention of the exceptional hardship scheme is to act
as a safety net for those whose needs the main scheme does not meet. This is
considered a more cost effective and fairer approach than providing blanket support
to a particular cohort or in relation to a particular characteristic when it is not required
in the majority of cases.

David

Hi AnonymousM

As it is a discretionary award you cannot appeal the decision, you can ask them to look at the decision again or you can ask for a Judicial Review but this route can be expensive so you do need to seek advice from your local Welfare Rights Organisation; advicelocal.uk, they will be able to take all your circumstances into consideration.

Gary