bedroom tax not paying

[bcham]

i stopped paying the bedroom tax over 3 months ago as i cant afford to pay it out of my £72 a week .if labor or ukip win the next ellection and the tax is scrapped.will i still have to pay the arrears.

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

Which benefit are you on please? And are you claiming a reduction in council tax?

 

HB

[honeybee13]

Also, have you spoken to the council about your problems or discussed them with the CAB?

 

HB

[estellyn]

Have you applied to the council for a discretionary housing payment to cover the bedroom tax?

 

Yes you would have to pay the arrears, if it is stopped, it won't be retroactive, so best to get it sorted now.

[bcham]

actually its a friend of mine who is unemployed.who im inquiring for. not me. as hes stopped paying his bedroom tax. what is the discretionary housing payment.hes on job seekers allowance.and is single.he lives in a 2 bedroom council house.

[estellyn]

discretionary housing payment is something you can claim from the council to 'top up' housing benefit. It is discretionary (obviously) and your friend would be assessed based on income and need. A form can be collected from the council, it is awarded for set periods, for instance 3 months and can then be reapplied for.

[ericsbrother]

Changes in legislation are not retrospective so yes, a debt accrued before a change of law is still enforceable. Would a govenrment changing the law enforce old debts in this way?no, but some councils may well do. look how they ignre Eric Pickles over dustbin emptying and ther use of RIPA