Permanent Residence

[Basti86dd]

Hi,

It's probably a stupid question but is a council tax excemption the same as a council tax reduction? I'm currently completing the form for the application for permanent residence and I'm not sure how to complete section 16. I didn't receive an public fund which are list under the section. I just got an excemption for council tax since I was full time student - but from my understanding that's certtainly not the same as a council tax reduction - Am I right?

Furthermore I would like to know if I need to provide any proof that I didn't receive anything. How shall I do that? How can I proof that I got nothing?

Best and many thanks,
Sebastian

[rooibos]

I don't think this counts as a benefit, if this is what you are asking.

[ohara]

Council tax exemption and reduction are not "public funds". Everyone is entitled to them in certain circumstances and they are not means tested.

There is no exemption as such, but certain categories of people (such as carers, full time students etc) are not counted for council tax purposes.

People who live alone get a 25% reduction.

You don't need to prove that you "got nothing", as the Home Office has access to the computer systems which hold information on benefits claims anyway.

[Basti86dd]

Hi,

Thanks for your answers. Just one more wee question based on the posting of ohara: In section 16 of the application to get the certifucate for permanent residence, "council tax reduction" is explicitly listed as public fund / state benefit. Just to be sure: I don't need to tick the box that I got one of the listed benefits since I was exempt and didn't get a reduction as such, correct. I'm a bjt confused after the last posting.

Furthermore: they explicitly ask for proof, so what I understood from your posting is that I just need to show proof if I would have received some of the listed benefits. Right?

[ohara]

Well I stand corrected

According to this link, the rules changed in 2013.

The Immigration Rules changed on 1 April 2013 to include the following in the list of public funds:

council tax reduction under a council tax reduction scheme made under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in relation to England or Wales
a council tax reduction pursuant to the Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 2012 or the Council Tax Reduction (State Pension Credit) (Scotland) Regulations 2012.

It does also state:

This does not include being exempt from Council Tax. If your dwelling is 'exempt' from council tax, or you are 'disregarded' for the purpose of Council Tax, then you are not deemed to be receiving a Council Tax reduction. Also if you receive a Council Tax 'discount' (for example, because only one adult who is not 'disregarded' is resident in the property), then you are not considered to be receiving a Council Tax reduction under the Immigration Rules, although your local authority might refer to this as a 'Council Tax reduction'.

So as a student who is exempt from council tax, you are fine.