New bedroom tax

[bill58]

But, sadly, it's only a review of disabled people that may need overnight carers ...

 

sorry to hijack this. raeuk tried to send you post p.m.but couldnt.it only about city and i think we are gonna struggle next season.

would be nice to hear from a fellow grecian

[jadeybags]

Unfortunately, Cameron & friends will think nothing of the poor woman. It was water off a ducks back, I say was because it's past history for them now of course....

[ee-bee]

the whole bedroom tax is disgusting !! i been trying to downsize for over a year. i was given no points,not one bloody point,then when the bed room tax kicked in i was given 130 points,i`v bid on 2 property`s and my bidding position has been something like 204 out of 216 bids,not a dam chance of getting a smaller property,so now i have to find £14 a week for a spare room when i actually want to move,and the biggest joke of all is the two bedroom houses are either more rent than my 3 bedroom or about the same !!

[jadeybags]

I don't think it's to do with the cost of the homes (although of course they are putting the extra money they are robbing off people in their pockets) but their grand plan is freeing up spare rooms. Which I get in principle, but you are a classic example of how it can't work, you want to move but can't!

[osdset]

I don't think the plan is to free up housing, if someone wants to over occupy they will find the cash somehow. There isn't enough social housing to go around anyway shuffling tenants about might alleviate the problem short term, however families are constantly growing and larger properties will always be in demand.

 

I believe this is another tranche of the governments squeeze on benefits in general albeit by the back door, ( the council tax debacle being another example).

 

Adding together the bedroom tax, the council tax shortfall, and the capped 1% annual benefits increase, means many claimants being significantly worse off. The prospect of Universal credit on the horizon will pretty much be the last nail in the coffin.

 

Benefit levels were on, or below the poverty line before the government got stuck into dismantling the system. It won't be long before existing solely on benefits will be nigh on impossible.

[bcham]

looks like the unemployed will be living on bread and water soon,might be better of in prison.

[Nystagmite]

looks like the unemployed will be living on bread and water soon,might be better of in prison.

 

At least they won't have to worry about finding money each week to pay the shortfalls. In all seriousness, I have an awful feeling you're right.

[jadeybags]

looks like the unemployed will be living on bread and water soon,might be better of in prison.

 

Whenever people say that, I keep saying yes, if I didn't have dependents, I would rob a bank to get in there. Prisons don't scare me on their own, just leaving my kids, in fact I am obsessed with everything on tv to do with prisons, & a bedroom full f true crime books. I swear I should have been a criminal psychologist or something lol it would just be brilliant to have 3 square meals a day & not have to worry about putting leccy on the meter & pay rent/food. I'm surprised more don't do it....maybe they do...Ricidivists

[estellyn]

Whenever people say that, I keep saying yes, if I didn't have dependents, I would rob a bank to get in there. Prisons don't scare me on their own, just leaving my kids, in fact I am obsessed with everything on tv to do with prisons, & a bedroom full f true crime books. I swear I should have been a criminal psychologist or something lol it would just be brilliant to have 3 square meals a day & not have to worry about putting leccy on the meter & pay rent/food. I'm surprised more don't do it....maybe they do...Ricidivists

 

Well could you imagine coming out from that environment - three meals a day, tv in your cell, guaranteed roof over your head and no bills, to £71 a week JSA and struggling to budget. I can understand there being absolutely no incentive for those who had no problems in prison to abstain from criminal activity. The criminal activity gives them cash to supplement the JSA, and if they get caught, then back to the well provided for environment of prison.

[bcham]

that's why so many offenders,are back inside within months of being released,to hard on the outside,

[osdset]

I would agree that for those that have become institutionalised prison is a safe, and possibly even a happy place to be.

 

Regular inmates know the rules and the regime, have made many friends (or enemies!) and find the routine reassuring, however for Mr & Mrs average prison is a huge shock to the system, and not a very pleasant one at that. Bear in mind that you could easily find yourself sharing a cell with one or more people that you would not like to meet in a dark alleyway, or socialise with under any circumstances.

 

There is very little in the way of privacy, and unless you are categorised fairly quickly you will find yourself incarcerated in the most repulsive surroundings with people whose personal hygiene is virtually non existent, don't believe the media cobblers, prison ain't a nice place to be.

[estellyn]

I would agree that for those that have become institutionalised prison is a safe, and possibly even a happy place to be.

 

Regular inmates know the rules and the regime, have made many friends (or enemies!) and find the routine reassuring, however for Mr & Mrs average prison is a huge shock to the system, and not a very pleasant one at that. Bear in mind that you could easily find yourself sharing a cell with one or more people that you would not like to meet in a dark alleyway, or socialise with under any circumstances.

 

There is very little in the way of privacy, and unless you are categorised fairly quickly you will find yourself incarcerated in the most repulsive surroundings with people whose personal hygiene is virtually non existent, don't believe the media cobblers, prison ain't a nice place to be.

 

Yeah of course, we were talking about those for whom prison in itself isn't a deterrent.

[Surfer01]

Do we want to see this again because people have to take in a lodger. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-mcgreavy-monster-worcester-sadistic-1903878

[time4change2]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/disabled-families-challenge-bedroom-tax-in-high-court-8617821.html

[dyfed]

I wonder if you could convert a spare room into a prayer room?

If then the council try and charge you then tell em you worship in the room and to force you to move or pay for a prayer room would be racist against your religion.

[dyfed]

Whenever people say that, I keep saying yes, if I didn't have dependents, I would rob a bank to get in there. Prisons don't scare me on their own, just leaving my kids, in fact I am obsessed with everything on tv to do with prisons, & a bedroom full f true crime books. I swear I should have been a criminal psychologist or something lol it would just be brilliant to have 3 square meals a day & not have to worry about putting leccy on the meter & pay rent/food. I'm surprised more don't do it....maybe they do...Ricidivists

 

I would be glad to get away and have a holiday for a while lol

[time4change2]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bedroom-tax-councils-help-tenants-1923207

 

well at least some councils are trying to help there tenants even if they are changing some rooms into stidiues to avoid the bedroom tax

[Surfer01]

Seems strange as by reclassifying them doesn't it alter council tax band as home would have to be revalued?

[osdset]

Lord David Freud has threatened to withdraw or restrict housing benefit subsidy to councils which ‘inappropriately’ reclassify properties for bedroom tax purposes.

 

The welfare reform minister, in a letter to council chief executives today, said there have been cases of councils redesignating properties without reducing their rent to reflect a loss of a bedroom. Lord Freud said he expects ‘the designation of a property to be consistent for both housing benefit and rent purposes’.

 

The letter said: ‘Blanket redesignations without a clear and justifiable reason and without reductions in rent, are inappropriate and do not fall within the spirit of the policy.

‘If it is shown properties are being redesignated inappropriately this will be viewed very seriously,’ the letter said.

 

Lord Freud said that where the Department for Work and Pensions suspects properties are being re-designated inappropriately it will commission an independent audit to ‘ascertain whether correct and appropriate procedures have been followed.’ He said redesignating properties without reducing the rent would lead to incorrect housing benefit subsidy claims being submitted to the DWP.

 

It goes on to warn: ‘Where it is found that a local authority has redesignated properties without reasonable grounds and without reducing rents, my department would consider either restricting or not paying their housing benefit subsidy.

 

 

Didn't take long did it?

 

LA's find a way to help tenants out of this mess, and Freud threatens to block it.

 

Full story here http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/freud-issues-bedroom-tax-reclassification-warning/6527417.article#.UcMswxxc8o4.facebook

[Surfer01]

Councils know that the backlash will be against them as many people will be unable to pay the bedroom tax which means that eventually bailiffs are brought in as the people couldn't pay in the first place, the bailiffs are unable to extract further monies from these people. It will be the beginning of a nightmare for people and councils. The councils will have to employ additional people to process these "non-payers" but where will they get the funds to pay them unless they hike up council taxes?

[worried33]

Lord David Freud has threatened to withdraw or restrict housing benefit subsidy to councils which ‘inappropriately’ reclassify properties for bedroom tax purposes.

 

The welfare reform minister, in a letter to council chief executives today, said there have been cases of councils redesignating properties without reducing their rent to reflect a loss of a bedroom. Lord Freud said he expects ‘the designation of a property to be consistent for both housing benefit and rent purposes’.

 

The letter said: ‘Blanket redesignations without a clear and justifiable reason and without reductions in rent, are inappropriate and do not fall within the spirit of the policy.

‘If it is shown properties are being redesignated inappropriately this will be viewed very seriously,’ the letter said.

 

Lord Freud said that where the Department for Work and Pensions suspects properties are being re-designated inappropriately it will commission an independent audit to ‘ascertain whether correct and appropriate procedures have been followed.’ He said redesignating properties without reducing the rent would lead to incorrect housing benefit subsidy claims being submitted to the DWP.

 

It goes on to warn: ‘Where it is found that a local authority has redesignated properties without reasonable grounds and without reducing rents, my department would consider either restricting or not paying their housing benefit subsidy.

 

 

Didn't take long did it?

 

LA's find a way to help tenants out of this mess, and Freud threatens to block it.

 

Full story here http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/freud-issues-bedroom-tax-reclassification-warning/6527417.article#.UcMswxxc8o4.facebook

 

How is it legal for some guy unelected to be working as a minister saying its his department?

 

I really hate this moron.

[antone]

It's legal because he's a member of Parliament, albeit of the HoL. Can't find much to disagree with in your second sentence, mind you.

[phil76]

Hope some can help

 

My friend and his wife have started paying this dreaded bedroom tax they want smaller place but none available atm,my question is would they be allowed to let their daughter move back home to help with the rent?or would this not be allowed and affect the housing benefit?

 

Thank you

[time4change2]

it would classed as a change in circumstances as they would be classed as a non dependant and a reduction in housing benefit may have to be made up,

 

my cousin moved in with her mum a few weeks ago she gets benefits ESA SG but as she was a non dependant her mums housing benefit was decreased and she had to make up the £17.00 a week shortfall in the rent

[phil76]

it would classed as a change in circumstances as they would be classed as a non dependant and a reduction in housing benefit may have to be made up,

 

my cousin moved in with her mum a few weeks ago she gets benefits ESA SG but as she was a non dependant her mums housing benefit was decreased and she had to make up the £17.00 a week shortfall in the rent

 

Thank you