Council tax and non dependant relative

I've looked and looked and cannot find an answer. We are currently applying for CTB as I am on ESA and my wife is on CA for looking after her mother who lives with us. We created an annexe for her with an interconnecting door, it is essentially one bungalow with a door in the middle. Mum receives attendance allowance at the higher rate but of course does not pay us any rent or anything towards CT...rightly so.

However as she is 85 will she be considered within the assessment for council tax benefit for my wife and I? We have been getting a 25% discount for some years while I was employed (before redundancy) for giving up part of our home to Mum in Law. MIL is registered disabled and my wife gets the £53.90 rate of CA. I get £65.45 ESA while on the assessment phase. MIL has well less than £16,000 and gets by on a pension and attendance allowance.

Will this be considered when assessing us for council tax benefit?

Many thanks

BTD

Council Tax Benefit is not one of the benefits this forum has any expertise in dealing with. It could therefore could be worthwhile telephoning the Council Tax Benefit Office of your local council (they are very helpful) and ask their advice as they will be far better placed to give you accurate and definitive advice.

Sorry to be of little help but if we gave out advice that turned out to be incorrect it could lead to problems at a future date.

Hi BTD,

I'm afraid I don't have experience of means-tested benefits. When I was a WRO, I specialised in IB, DLA and Industrial Injuries.

Try this CAB link Help with your Council Tax – Council Tax Benefit

May be others can be of more help.

Good luck.

Jim

many thanks for your advice. I have phoned my LA and must say they were really helpful and answered all of my questions. It would seem Mum is also entitle to a pension credit to take her up to £150 per week which none of us ever realised.

They suggested that as I am going through the main phase of ESA I should be entitled to additional income support during that time. Does anyone know what this may be and who I should contact to make an application to?

Thanks again

BTD