New Housing Benefit cuts: what effect will they have?

mvengemvenge

Jowo wrote: »

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.

Seems to me this is a handy way for the 'nice' people to reclaim London from the 'scutters'.

Or am I just being cynical?

Shakethedisease

Why should the violins and fluffy pillows come out for the housing benefit claimers?

Because most of them work and still can't afford the rent without a top-up ?

Where will London be when all the hospital cleaners, bin-men, posties, part-time shop workers etc etc etc.. can't afford to live there or the travel costs to get to their jobs anymore ?

There won't be anyone to sell you fluffy pillows anymore.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

mvengemvenge wrote: »

Seems to me this is a handy way for the 'nice' people to reclaim London from the 'scutters'.

Or am I just being cynical?

No, that's exactly what this is.

With a healthy portion of Tory gerrymandering thrown in to boot.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.....

One of the most famous British examples of gerrymandering occurred in the 1980s, when Dame Shirley Porter was embroiled in the "homes for votes" scandal.

The former leader of Westminster Council was found to have played a key role in selling off council homes to prospective Conservative voters.

Dame Porter was also found to have forced 122 homeless families likely to vote Labour, out of eight marginal seats.

This was at a time when the Labour Party looked likely to take control of Westminster, one of Margaret Thatcher's flagship councils.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641289649

chucky

dopester wrote: »

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?

i know it's probably up for debate but i like the idea because i'm a nice kind of chap

where you bean Mr D.O. you've been missed round these parts

silvercar

Shakethedisease wrote: »

Where will London be when all the hospital cleaners, bin-men, posties, part-time shop workers etc etc etc.. can't afford to live there or the travel costs to get to their jobs anymore ?

Maybe they will have to commute, like the rest of us.

Shakethedisease

Dream on, on public transport costs !!

TBH that's a pretty sweeping statement from you. If you're already on a low-income, and get moved miles out from where you work due to rental restrictions... 'Just commute like the rest of us'..I can't believe you said that without looking into it further.

Who is 'the rest of us' ? People on what a year who 'commute' ? What does it cost you ?

Just had a look and a London Zone card Zones 1-6 costs £1904 a year ! Jesus, 2k before you even earn anything... what would be the point of that on minumum wage travelling to and fro.

http://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/travelcard_oyster.htm

( *wishes people would back up stuff like this with figures instead of wishful/pompus type thinking *).

Those sort of travelling costs are unsupportable on crappy inner city jobs the lowest paid there do. Wave them goodbye in October 2011. They won't be able to live there, OR 'commute' there either.

Generali

There are places to live in Central-ish London that are cheap. You can get a room in a shared house in places like Tulse Hill and Brixton for about £100/week advertised on Rightmove (link). If you rent somewhere through Loot or lodge you can shave a chunk off that. A bus ticket is £16.60/week (link).

The minimum wage is £5.93. Working 40hrs/week = £237.20 gross = £198.71 net. You could end up with £100/week after housing and travel costs. Now that's not a lot I grant you but it is possible.

Shakethedisease

But if you have a family ? Or single and one child to house/look after ? Still possible ?

bus ticket is £16.60/week

or £664 a year. Thats a lot when you're already on minimun wage.

dopester

chucky wrote: »

i know it's probably up for debate but i like the idea because i'm a nice kind of chap

where you bean Mr D.O. you've been missed round these parts

I know you are, and balanced too, but too nice in this instance imo.

I'm still here but dipping into fewer threads atm. Not because I've been proved wrong on deflation or anything and am hiding in shame.

After a run of very wet/cold summers just making use of the better days and evenings when I can. Haven't been on a relaxing foreign holiday like you did recently. Also less pc time due to studying. (workshop manuals and learning how to use some new software.)

dopester

Shakethedisease wrote: »

Because most of them work and still can't afford the rent without a top-up ?

I'm not convinced those housing benefit top-ups don't have some effect of artificially increasing rent values by themselves.

You other point is well made and I'm thinking about it. You're right about the commuting price impact for working people on lower-pay who have jobs which need to be done in London proper. There are possible solutions apart from HB or subsidised/key-worker housing, but I'm not raising them now (tired).

The working people are more important that HB claimers who don't have jobs and are just claiming significant amounts of HB and other benefits in and closely around central London - imo.