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Claire a single mother to two teenage boys and she works part time for £589 per month, but in addition she volunteers at the local prison helping young offenders. Claire's rent is £600 a month which is a full £100+ below the national average. Claire receives Housing Benefit to help pay her rent a) because of her low income and b) because one of her sons has DLA due to his Diabetes. For 2 separate reasons, Claire's Housing Benefit is about to be cut which will mean her having to leave her home. On the one hand her son's disability was last week no longer deemed a sufficient reason for her receipt of Housing Benefit, although confirmation that that will result in a loss of Housing Benefit is still pending. The other reason for Claire's loss of Housing Benefit arrived in the post today. Above is a letter from the government outlining changes that mean Housing Benefit recipients will be forced to accept the bottom 30% of accommodation in the area as opposed to the current rule that states the bottom 50% of homes can count. Although Claire's home is below the national average it is sadly not in the bottom 30% of homes. In addition, the government are changing the law to prevent Housing Benefit being claimed for 5 bedroom properties. See the changes detailed in the official letter below:
As a result of all of these changes Claire will be made homeless. Her wage simply cannot meet the cost of her rent arising out of the shortfall that will follow the government's cut in her Housing Benefit entitlement. She needs and depends upon Housing Benefit assistance. Her only option will now be to move into slum accommodation in another part of her city, the type of forced downgrade that I warned would happen in this piece (here). Claire is not alone, she has simply came to my attention. I suspect nearly half a million families will soon begin to receive the same news as Claire. More must be done to stop the ghettoisation of our working poor into the slum areas of our cities.
LHA rates in Sefton are £500pcm for 3 bed and £675 for 4 bed - so it wouldnt appear to be LHA cuts to 30%thats the issue, maybe her entitlement to a 4/5 bed is the issue (ie she is under-occupying.)
ReplyDeleteNow if only we had a left-wing party in Opposition that was willing to stand up against the things the Tories are doing to us.
ReplyDeleteSadly, all we've got is Labour.
Two questions.
Delete- why on earth is a family of two living in a 5 bedroom house ? That aspect of this case makes no sense. I can only assume "Claire" has more kids not mentioned.
- why is Claire volunteering this is unpaid economic activity when she clearly needs all the money she can get her hands on.
I have every sympathy with anyone in difficult financial circumstances but in this case she hardly seems to be behaving rationally.
Does she get working tax credit (WTC)? Is it possible she's entitled to it, even, and is among them any who don't know they can claim it? If so, it looks like she's exempt from the HB cap then. More here http://speye.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/why-the-benefit-cap-will-cost-billions-and-not-save-a-penny/
ReplyDeleteIt says in the official documentation "Households entitled to Working Tax Credit will be exempt from the cap." Well - is she or ain't she?
Is this one of the common values that Ed Milibabd refers to when trying to persuade Scotland to remain part of the union?
ReplyDeleteTory Housing Benefit Reform. the perfect " ethnic cleansing " plan on low income people ?
ReplyDeleteI was just speculating on the proposed new rules for Housing Benefit and it would appear to be a subtle plan to economically cleanse those on less than 600 a month living in semi rural areas. For example, council will only allow housing benefit on the bottom 30% rent rates for the area, which in the case of the small once industrial village where I currently live could fall into a larger geographical including urban areas where rents are still low. Furthermore, it would appear that type one diabetes is no longer a qualification for DLA, perhaps along with other mild disability once eligible, another reason to withdraw housing benefit. Then there is Freud's spare bedroom tax which could hit some of the low income working people in our village could be vulnerable if they only get minimum wage, all the small flats are already full. Many people are going to be faced with no option but to move out of our village, the only destination they will be deposited in are the the heavily traffic calmed areas of the local mill towns, perhaps soon to become fenced ghetto's ?
I now have some idea of what ignorance I am up against, last night in the pub I more or less got the chairman of our local parish council to admit that he didn't care what happened to the future of our indigenous community just so long as he gets a good price for his house if he is forced to sell it. This blatant Ten Bob Fat Cat attitude is destroying our community, no one would suspect such an attitude of one of the main men in the cricket club, always doing free work for the community. Its all hollow ideology, he took redundancy on an alleged fat cat pension from the local cement works recently, probably doesn't care about what happens the main driver of our local economy either ?
i'm a full time carer to my 18 year old asd son who is also epileptic,my partner is carer for my 17 year old asd daughter,we also have a girl age 10 and boy age 8. currently we rent a4 bed house at £800 pcm which is relatively cheap rent. i am at the momnet 1 bed short,my lha dosnt quite cover all my rent and when cut will leave me paying nearly 200 pcm out of carer's allowance (55.55 each)but i will continue to pay it,moving with asd kids is not an option and i cant downsize as im already 1 room short.the benefit cap will be unfair as ppl lucky enough 2 b in a council house will pay approx 1/2 the rent ppl in prvate rent have to pay.if only labour would stand up to this govt
ReplyDeleteIt's not just the working poor who are losing out. The people who aren't able to work due to disability are also losing out. Especially if they have ever worked in the past & have contributed to the British economy. Those in relate of contribution based disability benefits qualify for virtually nothing. Those in receipt of income based qualify for pretty much everything.
ReplyDeleteThe attitude seems to be that those who have worked in the past are clearly faking any existing problems and are just too lazy to work. Whereas most people in receipt of benefit would love to be able to work.
i am disabled with arthritis. I didnt make enough contributions because i was in the army and married a soldier. for 17 years, i followed my husband from bases in germany and cyprus, middle wallop - didnt have pavements yet alone jobs. but i worked where i could. The policy of the army is to employ as many locals as possible. So shit to me then, right? Now im alone, living in a hovel the council wont do anything for unless i go to a solicitor, i have no tv or phone. even this computer is my son's. i havent been able to pay gas or electricity. i have no carpets on my floors. i got a letter today telling me i have to go for a 4th medical to make sure i aint lying about my condition. You think this is right?
DeleteThe exemption is misleading; from my reading of the Bill yopu must ONLY get WTC, any CTC (or what replaces it) will mean you are subjected to cap. I am deducing this from the fact that the workfare and conditionality stops aroun £18k per anuum (just before) which is approx the same kick out level for CTC.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the caps aren;t about the housing benefit changes this year but later on- the universal credit changes.
Gordon: same for the village / small town we lie on: due to having 2, possibly 3 autistic children and being relaint on special education we dare not move, yet the area encompasses Newport which is an area of much lower rent. I am looking for work (my husband is already self employed) but even with a good degree and an almost-complete MA there is just so little about, and the start up support offered when I asked was beyong pointless (did think about self employment). We are techinically 2 bedrooms short- all the SN children require their own space- but one sleeps in our room and the oher in the dining area and that's fine as long as we have stability.
Hi Eoin
ReplyDeletesorry I have been missing, I am still up to the neck in casework. I am sure you will be glad to know that the mum
who was being victimised by certain bureaucrats has moved to another county. I smuggled them across the border!
She the and children are much happier and are no longer under threat from people who were mis-using their powers to make her life a misery.
The downside is that she lives in a privately rented home which costs £40+ per week more than the average council house. She is already living in the 'bottom 30% zone' so there is no hope of finding anything cheaper. She is looking for work but the chances of earning enough to pay a high rent and make ends meet are negligible. Sadly, those who brand all needy people are 'benefits scroungers' seem to be winning the argument.
Best Wishes
Cozmo
Hi Eoin
ReplyDeletesorry I have been missing, I am still up to the neck in casework. I am sure you will be glad to know that the mum
who was being victimised by certain bureaucrats has moved to another county. I smuggled them across the border!
She the and children are much happier and are no longer under threat from people who were mis-using their powers to make her life a misery.
The downside is that she lives in a privately rented home which costs £40+ per week more than the average council house. But she is already living in the 'bottom 30% zone' so there is no hope of finding anything cheaper. She is looking for work but the chances of earning enough to pay a high rent and make ends meet are negligible. Sadly, those who brand all needy people are 'benefits scroungers' seem to be winning the argument.
Best Wishes
Cozmo
'she' does get wtc but inc this will be left with £125pw to live on and pay bills,food and cloth my children and pay lunch money for school.
ReplyDeleteNo I do not over occupy, I live in a 3 bedroom house. I do not get the full award HB as I work,I do not get £500pm towards my rent.There are zero social housing propeties in the area. Private landlords are in abundance in the area,with a ave rent betwent £650pm-£850pm.
Claire
Have you got a Housing Advisor Claire? The £500 is a CAP - you should be getting HB assessed on the income you have from all sources which are not disregarded and yes there may be a shortfall that you have to make up from your income. If you are assessed as needing a 3 bed property and are not under occupying it, you should not have any deductions but if you are a '2 bed need' living in a 3 bed your HB will be reduced and the gap, you have to fund, will be bigger.
DeleteYou must use the HB you do get to pay the rent - £125 a week left over after your housing costs are paid is not an unreasonable amount to have to pay for living costs and many survive on less and do not fall behind...
As others have said as worthy as it is you are probably not in a position to give your time away as a volunteer - perhaps you'll have to pick that up again another time.
If you don't pay your rent and get evicted with arrears then even the emergency housing powers that LAs have to help the vulnerable and homeless will not help you as there is a risk that you would be judged 'intentionally homeless'
Unfortunately there are many others in similar situation who do keep the two ends meeting so there would have to be something very exceptional about your situation for a decision to go the other way....
You are not a scrounger and are obviously trying very hard - get some decent face to face advice from an advocacy service - Shelter are excellent and Nationwide but your local Housing Advice service should also be able to work for you....
I was in the army. I married a soldier as WRAC's inevitably did. and for 17 years i followed him around the globe while all my friends were getting houses and mortgages. The policy of the army was/is to employ as many locals as possible, but i worked where i could and raise two kids practically alone as he was away 7 months of the year. I have no family of my own to help. So i do not have the contributions. When i was diagnosed with arthritis 15 years ago, i was put on income support and DLA. I have no Tv, telephone, carpets.i live in a council house that only gets repaired if i go to a lawyer to force the council to do anything. And i gave that up when a worker turned up and plastered the wallpaper into the wall. I have not paid for gas or electric for almost 2 years, i cant, dont have the money. I figured i'd just die or something when they cut me off. Today, i got a letter saying DLA is going. I have to attend my 4th medical to see if im lying and im willing to bet ill be the only person who has a miraculous cure! Thanks Britain, you bastards.
ReplyDelete1) I do not live in a 5 bedroom home
ReplyDelete2) I do not have more 'kids' than I say I do. I have 2 children
3) I work p/t 16-18hpw, I have worked all my adult life.
4) I give my free time 1 day per week to the Volountary sector, this was at first to try and get a foot in the door to futher my career, after I had completed my degree in Criminal Justice. But after seeing the benefits my time gave to those who realy needed it. I have contiuned, and will contiune to Volounter. The person said It was irrational behaviour, that someone in my situation would give up my time. I would challeng that and say why? Why is it a bad thing I give back to my community. I donate 1 day per week, sometimes I admit more if an offender needs me. It is about choice It is my choice to help others, who I may add really need support and guidence, and if I can help change one young persons life though my volounteer work, It will all be worth it. I am not giving up chances of paid work to volounteer, I do it bacause I enjoy it, I make a diffrence to people lives, what a sad society we would be if everyone though of giving up volountary work. Am I not allowed any free time to myself? Have I also lost the right to choose how I spend my free time. Would this Shaw Green person have me working 60 hours per week, missing out on my children growing up, and tending to my sons illness. It is Shaw Green whos attitude is not rational not mine.
5) I pay 1/3 of my rent myself and 3/4 of my council tax myself.
6) I do not expect sympathy, I am a strong, independent woman, and regadless of my situation, I have never been one to sit back and accept defeat. My beliefs are strong, as is the want for change. I believe everything happens for a reason, I also believe there are worse off than me, so I count my blessings..
7) All I know is this, my son age 13-They stopped his dla, my HB was cut to 0.00, my wtc has been cut by £200pm due to me loosing the dla..
Where does this leave me, well basically homeless..However I have a good family, and a good head on my shoulders. Regardless of how small the light is at the moment at the end of the tunnel, I do see a twinkle. And whilst I see that, there is hope..