New Housing Benefit cuts: what effect will they have?

Niche

silvercar wrote: »

There must be a forum somewhere called money grabbing expert .com, with all hints and tips on how to maximise benefits and humour section laughing at people who intend to pay their own way.

There is www.entitledto.co.uk/ because it is your right:mad:

Just without the humour

bendix

chucky wrote: »

i agree with you in principle and something needed to be done.

the issue you probably need to have a look at is families who are living in 'ok' areas in the borough - you're asking them to move to areas like Lisson Grove, the southern part of Maida Vale or even the areas behind the Harrow Road towards Kensal Rise. these aren't the best areas to bring up children and may push children or older boys into 'pass-times' they shouldn't be involved in.

btw Westbourne Grove is extremely expensive - you won't find anything there.

Life is about making tough choices, chucky. If they are on Housing Benefit (and - presumably - other benefits) there has to be some sacrifices. If it means moving from Westbourne Grove (where they are getting £1300 a week HB) to Kensal Rise (where they are limited to £400), then tough.

It's not our responsibility to support the rockstar lifestyles of those who can't support themselves, even temporarily.

PS . Just out of interest, I live in Westbourne Grove. I rent a 2 bedroom turn of the century cottage literally within spitting distance of Starbucks on Westbourne Grove for £380 a week.

chucky

bendix wrote: »

Life is about making tough choices, chucky. If they are on Housing Benefit (and - presumably - other benefits) there has to be some sacrifices. If it means moving from Westbourne Grove (where they are getting £1300 a week HB) to Kensal Rise (where they are limited to £400), then tough.

It's not our responsibility to support the rockstar lifestyles of those who can't support themselves, even temporarily.

PS . Just out of interest, I live in Westbourne Grove. I rent a 2 bedroom turn of the century cottage literally within spitting distance of Starbucks on Westbourne Grove for £380 a week.

it's a lovely road, very narrow and the cottages are lovely. i nearly bought one a few years ago but decided on Alexander St.
the thai shop(s) around the corner is lovely too - i now know where your yellow fever comes from
i'll see you in the bonaparte then!!

bendix

ILW wrote: »

Many are not idiots, they have just worked out that knocking out kids that they cannot support is a good route to bigger and better housing. Seems some posters on here seem to think that is OK.

This move is not designed to attack people who lived in £1000 a week rented property, lost their job and then need HB to that amount to cover it. The kind of professional family who can afford that level of rent in the first place and who are prepared to pay it would have reserves of cash or the moral fortitude to get by. Plus there would be so few of them; those types would have mortgages anyway.

This move is designed EXPRESSLY to stop the sham of people already on the dole deliberately moving into massive houses in rich areas WITH THE CONNIVANCE of rogue landlords who know they can charge whatever rent they like because the benefits system will pick up the bill.

bendix

chucky wrote: »

it's a lovely road, very narrow and the cottages are lovely. i nearly bought one a few years ago but decided on Alexander St.
the thai shop(s) around the corner is lovely too - i now know where your yellow fever comes from
i'll see you in the bonaparte then!!

Ahhh, you know where I'm talking about. Good man. I use the Thai shop often, for obvious reasons. Not a great fan of the Bonaparte, myself. Prefer the more basic !!!! and Bottle on Artesian Road ;-)

I do admit, however, to having an absolutely fantastic rental deal though.

chucky

bendix wrote: »

Ahhh, you know where I'm talking about. Good man. I use the Thai shop often, for obvious reasons. Not a great fan of the Bonaparte, myself. Prefer the more basic !!!! and Bottle on Artesian Road ;-)

I do admit, however, to having an absolutely fantastic rental deal though.

yep - that one still has the paisley carpets. it's probably one of the only real pubs in the area.

the Walmer is good but get's a few k_nobs in there unfortunately.

there were a few good rental and purchase bargains around there in the last 18 months - i bought 3 times 18 months ago in the immediate area

drc

chucky wrote: »

when children are involved and it means making them re-adjust their lifestyle - it's not for me sorry

We're a working family, not LHA and we've had to move a few times in the past because our rent went up. That's just life and you have to adapt. Why should the children of those who get their rent paid be protected from these harsh realities, yet the children of those who have to pay their way have to suffer (and we're subsidising those on LHA and their children whilst we are working and paying taxes to boot). It's lose-lose for us.

ILW

drc wrote: »

We're a working family, not LHA and we've had to move a few times in the past because our rent went up. That's just life and you have to adapt. Why should the children of those who get their rent paid be protected from these harsh realities, yet the children of those who have to pay their way have to suffer (and we're subsidising those on LHA and their children whilst we are working and paying taxes to boot). It's lose-lose for us.

Well put...

Jowo_2

kennyboy66 wrote: »

I also heard on R4 this morning that there are approx 100 claims for £100k per year in Housing Benefit (£2k per week). Can this be true ?

I read somewhere that a freedom of information request revealed around 140 households in 3 boroughs in London received this but can't find the link now so can't be sure.

According to link below, last year 800 households qualified in just Westminster alone for £500-a-week payments (26k per annum).

Given that virtually all central london LHA rates are above the new caps, this is going to affect thousands, if not tens of thousands, of households who will be decanted from central London.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1237061/Millionaires-Row-2009-How-hundreds-families-luxury-homes-benefits-far-means-working-people.html

dopester

chucky wrote: »

i agree with you in principle and something needed to be done.

the issue you probably need to have a look at is families who are living in 'ok' areas in the borough - you're asking them to move to areas like Lisson Grove, the southern part of Maida Vale or even the areas behind the Harrow Road towards Kensal Rise. these aren't the best areas to bring up children and may push children or older boys into 'pass-times' they shouldn't be involved in.

OK you're talking London knowledge, but I get the idea.

It might also give the kids the hunger and ambition to do better than their parents, and get out of the ghetto.

I imagine there are working people with kids who pay their own way in Lisson Grove as well as Maida Vale, or behind Harrow Road - or any less appealing area around the UK. There certainly are up here. They have to deal with it. Why should the violins and fluffy pillows come out for the housing benefit claimers?