Council Tax Benefit, to claim or not to claim.

Our local authority, Wandsworth Council, has begun a new policy that if someone qualifies for Council Tax Benefit, while already in receipt of Housing Benefit, then they have to make a new claim. Problem is Wandsworth Council has a joint claim form for Housing and Council Tax Benefits, and as such the details given to them are what they already know.

Previously they used to consider it a change in circumstances but now require a new claim but as noted this simply confirms the details they already have in order to assess and pay the housing benefit claim?

Any ideas if (1) they can do this and (2) if not then best ways to get them to accept, as they once did, that when someone in receipt of housing benefit has a change in circumstances that they simply reassess and do not require a new claim form.

Thanks in advance

Tony,

Thanks for your time. This has caused problems for several clients who notify the Council and they send a form to complete but then argue that claim is from date the form sent back not issued. If they for example, and again as stated as they used to do, asked for further information on being contacted by client, then they would usually give a month etc for this to be provided.

While they are two separate benefits the fact that they do not have separate claim forms, which causes some confusion for clients as they don’t appreciate they need to claim a benefit that they are already in receipt off i.e. HB but have to do so to get the CTB.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Something to ponder, I always took a letter or sending details to the LA to be sufficient to be considered a claim pending the completing of one of their own claim forms.

Thanks again for your time and posts.