Changes To Housing Benefits

[Less]

Originally Posted by pallyman

i beleive if you are a pensioner,this rule does not apply,if you already in a larger property,worth checking.

I believe you are right.


However, the majority of those affected aren't in large properties, just living in the housing stock that is available.

A tax on the poor or what?

[pallyman]

i dont think we have seen the worse of this coalition,by a long way

[gynn]

Originally Posted by Less

From April 2013 Housing Benefits change, a person living on their own in a two bedroomed house will have the amount paid reduced by 14% if you have a three bedroom house by 25%.

It seems to me to be a little bit harsh and perhaps not all that well thoughtout.

I think you'll find its been carefully worked out.

The thinking is along the lines of:-

Cuts have to be made. Where can we make the cuts that will have minimum impact on votes for us at the next election?

After that, cutting housing benefit for those least able to afford it becomes a no brainer.

Don't forget we are all in it together!

Cynical? Moi?

[Mancie]

How much will this save regarding housing benefit?..I know plenty of single bedroom flats that require much higher rent than some two bedroom.. so it would cost more to force someone out of a two bed flat into a single (that is if they can find one).

[Mancie]

And let's get this clear..a fair proportion of the people who will suffer under these ill thought out cuts will be British men and women who have worked and paid tax most of their lives, who in later years, find themselves in a bad position regarding income and suffer the pressure of maybe not having a decent roof over their heads.. at the same time people like Baroness Warsi can claim £32,000 per year for hotel rooms not stayed in and not even blink.

[cmonstanley]

Yep Tory scum just wait till universal credit comes in

[wallop79]

I can see both sides, I've a friend desperate to move from a 1 bed flat into a 2 bed flat/house as she has a baby & her boyfriend is wanting to move in, she has been looking for ages but doesn't even get a sniff at the houses she bids on. Then again I can understand people not wanting to move from their homes that they have lived in for sometimes years. But at the end of the
day if you don't really need 2 bedrooms due to the size of your family, this is just putting out on people that could do with the extra room.

[accyman]

does our council have to enforce this or can they choose not to ?

[wallop79]

Originally Posted by accyman

does our council have to enforce this or can they choose not to ?

Pretty sure its a government thing so councils won't have a choice. I did a Google search for cust at work bout housing & rent, it brought up loads different councils, so its not just Hyndburn

[susie123]

Originally Posted by accyman

does our council have to enforce this or can they choose not to ?

Would have thought it mandatory as it is a government thing.

Important changes to Housing Benefit : Directgov - Newsroom

Anyway wouldn't any council want to get away with paying out as little housing benefit as they could?

[Mancie]

Originally Posted by accyman

does our council have to enforce this or can they choose not to ?

This is the law of the land..it's all well and good for people to try and give advice and say this is not right but this should not be happening in the first place.. didn't notice much fuss when this became law..and has been said there's plenty more to come for those already in difficult situations.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by wallop79

I can see both sides, I've a friend desperate to move from a 1 bed flat into a 2 bed flat/house as she has a baby & her boyfriend is wanting to move in, she has been looking for ages but doesn't even get a sniff at the houses she bids on. Then again I can understand people not wanting to move from their homes that they have lived in for sometimes years. But at the end of the
day if you don't really need 2 bedrooms due to the size of your family, this is just putting out on people that could do with the extra room.

I'm pretty sure yeh wouldn't see both sides in "Less"s predicament?

[Mancie]

Originally Posted by accyman

Just wait until they bring in no housing benefits for under 25 year olds and families been forced into been homeless

You don't need a degree to work out the kind of havoc that will create regarding housing when it becomes law..Cameron has said he'd like to return to the days when a young couple moved into the parents home and saved up for a deposit on a mortgage.. that is the sort of pie in the sky world he lives in.

[Mancie]

Originally Posted by Less

Whenever I have a letter reviewing my benefits it is emphasised that I am on the MINIMUM amount allowed by law to survive, So where exactly am I supposed to find this extra £10?

Well that's all kak according to Garinda and Co.. the benefits system is far to generous..you should get nowt till yer hobblin around in bare feet

[Restless]

More stupid ideas from our government. I can honestly say I can only think of a few flats and one house that was a single bedroom(and that has been knocked down)

I think one of the problems with private housing these days is the high rent. Landlords charge whatever they want. £425 upwards per month for 2 bedroom terrace in the majority of areas in Accrington IMO to me is simply too high. Especially for those on low wages. The past 2 years; house sharing has been my only real option.

Originally Posted by susie123

Good luck with that one. My cousin has been on their books for several years, she is over 80 and has medical issues and still has not got a place. .

My housemate has been on with them for four years now. Recently they sent him a letter saying that he had to reapply and go to the bottom of the waiting list!