Hi

One to get your brains working and for you to show how versatile you all are!

I'm trying to compile a list of other help that is available that depends on a person being in receipt of Council Tax Benefit.

For example, Social fund Funeral Grants.

Can't offer a prize for the best but I bet between us we can come up with a few others.

The reason I'm asking is that some people will have the option of giving up very small amounts of Council Tax Benefit to claim a council tax discount that pays slightly more. The sums are very small (£35 to £45 per year). I'm trying to calculate the risk of giving up entitlement to CTB for this purpose.

Any thoughts?

The only other one that I can think of is that if the applicable amount in the CTB calculation includes a higher pensioner premium or disability premium, then the award counts as a qualifying benefit for the purposes of the disability element of working tax credit.

I can't think of anymore just now. Did you find any more?

Locally, Council Tax benefit also acts as a gateway to maximising help available to grants for having central heating systems repaired/replaced. (One persons grant went from £500 to £3,500 because we managed to get him £1.20 council tax benefit per wek.)

how about:
help with Vets bills via PDSA
Warm Front home insulation grants
special tariffs for water rates (extra requirements; >3children or certain medical conditions)
some authorities offer transport tokens/TV licences to those over certain age who also get HB/CTB

CTB passports to full Disabled Facilities Grant, worth upto £30000 in England and £36000 in Wales. This for older people might become important.

Thank you for these examples, some are quite new to me (PDSA and pets!). keep 'em coming. I'm sure I'm not the only one finding this useful.

Actually, having gone away and done something else, I'm having second thoughts......the PDSA thing might be if they get IS/JSAIB/PCGC/Tax Credits. I know we get requests for duplicate CTB/HB letters "to show the vet" from time to time....