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Main Content: Carers urged to check council tax
With Council Tax bills for 2008 about to issued Carers UK is urging carers to make sure they are paying the correct amount. It is not widely publicised but some carers could qualify for up to 50% off their council tax bills.
Carers UK regularly hear from carers whose local council or even their local advice centre have told them incorrectly that they cannot have a discount, when in fact the carer is entitled.
Carers UK’s helpline has helped in cases where the carer has been paying too much since as early as 1993 when Council Tax was first introduced. The good news is that this money can be backdated all the way to 1993, leading in some cases to substantial backdating awards of thousands of pounds.
Jean French is manager of Carers UK's helpline CarersLine, she says "It is well worth carers getting independent advice about their council tax payments, even if they have been paying for years. Local councils may insist they have the calculation right, but often they fail to understand the various types of help with council tax they are obliged by law to offer. Their written or online information can be confusing. You may need to be persistent with your appeal."
Carers UK has issued updated advice for carers on their website, including a template letter that carers can use to ask their council to recaluculate their council tax.
If you are a carer and want to find out if you should be getting a discount on council tax, visit our website
http://www.carerswales.org/Information/Financialhelp/CouncilTaxBenefit
For further advice, ring CarersLine on 0808 808 7777 (Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am to 12 noon and 2 to 4pm)