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'Bedroom Tax'


Flojo

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I saw a few people talking about this Bedroom Tax on FB so I decided to see what the fuss was about, it's no surprise that the Tories are reinforcing my view of them as massive pricks. These lot continue to fuck over the most vulnerable people in the country

 

 

A forthcoming change in housing benefit rules has been dubbed the "bedroom tax", and the name has stuck.

Strictly speaking, though, it is not a tax at all. The government argues the changes will help cut the £23bn annual bill for housing benefit, free up more living space for overcrowded families, and encourage people to get jobs.

 

But housing charities are warning that the result will be higher levels of rent arrears, and greater homelessness.

The government estimates that over half a million tenants will be affected when the new rules take effect in April this year. It says the savings to the taxpayer will amount to £505m in 2012-13, and £540m in the year after.

 

What is changing?

The new rules will affect housing benefit, which is paid to less well-off tenants to help with rent. Typically claimants receive between £50 and £100 a week.

But from April 2013 families deemed to have too much living space by their local authorities will receive a reduced payment. Under the government's so-called "size criteria", families will be assessed for the number of bedrooms they actually need.

 

Who will be affected?

This change affects council tenants, and those who rent from housing associations. It does not affect private sector tenants.

The government estimates that 660,000 households will have their benefit cut, roughly a third of social sector claimants. Only those of working age will see reduced payments.

 

How much will people lose?

If tenants are deemed to have one spare room, they will lose 14% of their benefit. If they have two or more spare rooms, they will lose 25%.

The government says that will mean an average loss of about £14 a week for council tenants. Those who rent from housing associations are facing an average loss of about £16 a week.

 

How many bedrooms are you allowed?

The new rules allow one bedroom for each adult or couple. Children under the age of 16 are expected to share, if they are the same gender. Those under 10 are expected to share whatever their gender.

Disabled tenants will be allowed a bedroom for full-time carers. The number of bedrooms in the property will be determined by the landlord's tenancy agreement, so you cannot claim a bedroom is actually a living room.

 

Can I keep a spare bedroom?

Not without losing benefit. Parents who are separated are not allowed to keep a vacant bedroom for a child who visits. Foster children are not counted as permanent members of a household.

 

What about students?

From April, parents will not be penalised if a student is away, as long as he or she sleeps at home for at least two weeks a year. But when universal credit comes in from this autumn, students will need to be at home for at least six months to avoid a benefit cut.

 

What about lodgers?

From April, claimants with a paying lodger will be allowed to keep the first £20 of weekly rent. But housing benefit will be then be cut, pound for pound, on the rest of the rent they receive.

However, after universal credit is established, housing benefit will be cut, but tenants will be allowed to keep all the rental income (although only the first £4,250 of annual rent is free of income tax).

 

Are pensioners exempt?

From April 2013, if either half of a couple are of pensionable age, they will not suffer reductions to housing benefit.

Under universal credit, both will need to be over pensionable age, or one will need to be in receipt of pension credit, in order to qualify for the maximum benefit.

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Not without losing benefit. Parents who are separated are not allowed to keep a vacant bedroom for a child who visits. Foster children are not counted as permanent members of a household.

What about students?

From April, parents will not be penalised if a student is away, as long as he or she sleeps at home for at least two weeks a year. But when universal credit comes in from this autumn, students will need to be at home for at least six months to avoid a benefit cut.

That's just ridiculous smh

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It's policies like this that make me laugh when people say 'The tories are just the same as Labour' etc etc, the quicker people realise these lot do not care or cater for you if you're not of their ilk the better. Labour aren't wonderful but The Tories are just downright fuckery.

 

These lot are basically saying that for a boy and a girl under the ages of 10 to have separate rooms is a luxury.

 

I'd be interested to hear Ulysees' opinion on this.

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The only thing I see a problem with here is that foster children are not counted as permanent members of a household.

 

If taxpayers are funding you £290 per week plus, having 2+ bedrooms when there are only 2 adults (couple) living in the house, it's totally reasonable that shouldn't be allowed.

 

If you can't afford to live within your means and need help from the government to do that, why the fuck would you expect a bigger place on the taxpayers' back?

 

Some of you are deluded.

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The only thing I see a problem with here is that foster children are not counted as permanent members of a household.

 

If taxpayers are funding you £290 per week plus, having 2+ bedrooms when there are only 2 adults (couple) living in the house, it's totally reasonable that shouldn't be allowed.

 

If you can't afford to live within your means and need help from the government to do that, why the fuck would you expect a bigger place on the taxpayers' back?

 

Some of you are deluded.

 

Exactly this 

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Where does £290 get plucked out of the air from?

 

A few scenarios.

 

Person A is allocated a 2 bedroom house as there are a shortage of 1 bedroom properties where they live (this applies to most places across the country), come April they're told that their housing Benefit will be reduced as they have a unoccupied room despite being open to moving to a smaller property. It's delusional to view this as unfair?

 

Person B is divorced and has a 2 bedroom property that is only occupied by their child 3 days a week when they come to stay on  a weekend, this spare bedroom is a condition of the court for the child to be allowed to stay but the government are now saying that you should be penalised for having a place for your child to stay. It's delusional to view this as unfair?

 

Person C is sick/disabled and lives in a 2 bedroom property as they sometimes need the assistance of an overnight carer. Because they don't always need an overnight carer their spare room is classed as unoccupied so their housing benefit will be cut. It's delusional to view this as unfair?

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