Why is there no extra help?

viktory

Buggles wrote: »

Why the hell shouldn't I rent a flat if that is what I want/have to do??

No, you are quite right. Why shouldn't you rent a flat?

Oh hang on....can you afford it though??

Jowo_2

viktory wrote: »

No, you are quite right. Why shouldn't you rent a flat?

Oh hang on....can you afford it though??

viktory, isn't it stingy of the government not to fulfil the lifestyle aspirations of those under the age of 25 to run their own place despite low or no income?

i mean, how unfair is it that every school leaver can't waltz into a 1 bedroom flat whether or not they have a job? surely every adult should have a pad of their own, its only fair.

isn't it incredible that the benefits system has this built in defect which prevents everyone of working age from having a better life-work balance? surely everyone should be able to have a similar standard of living and surely everyone should be able to work part-time and have the same disposable income as someone who works twice as long?!

yeah but no but yeah but

viktory

Jowo wrote: »

viktory, isn't it stingy of the government not to fulfil the lifestyle aspirations of those under the age of 25 to run their own place despite low or no income?

i mean, how unfair is it that every school leaver can't waltz into a 1 bedroom flat whether or not they have a job? surely every adult should have a pad of their own, its only fair.

isn't it incredible that the benefits system has this built in defect which prevents everyone of working age from having a better life-work balance? surely everyone should be able to have a similar standard of living and surely everyone should be able to work part-time and have the same disposable income as someone who works twice as long?!

yeah but no but yeah but

I know, it is dreadful. I am considering starting a petition and will be marching on Downing Street to object!

Jowo_2

viktory wrote: »

I know, it is dreadful. I am considering starting a petition and will be marching on Downing Street to object!

Well Davey boy is quite strong on the concept that the best route out of poverty is through employment and is determined to make radical changes to the benefit system to make it pay better. The new paper from Duncan Smith is one where they are aiming to collapse a lot of the separate benefits, such as income support, LHA and tax credits that the OP covets.

However, if you are persuasive enough about this about this particular benefit trap, then perhaps he'll make some kind of exemption.

That way, those under the age of 25 who are not in the position to afford expensive accommodation on benefits or low wages are ring-fenced from the consequences of them signing tenancy agreements that cripple their low disposal income. That way, there's no need for them to consider choosing more affordable accommodation, cutting back on other expenses or working longer hours, as that's just a sheer cheek.

emiai

If you worked more hours, wouldnt you lose your housing and council tax benefits - but be more independant

Is this another case of, I would be better off on benefits as I only do 16 hours maths wise?

Not meant as an insult, just adding sums together today after some of the bbc headlines. xx
I would try and push for more hours if you can, looks like the best solution. gl

Jowo_2

emiai wrote: »

I would try and push for more hours if you can, looks like the best solution. gl

The OP was working part-time back in December last year and it seems has been unable to secure either full paid employment, another part time job or extra hours in her current job in the last 8 months.

What they are actually encountering is an employment issue, not a benefits issue, in tandem with a budgeting problem.Their perception is that they have a benefits issue but they are mistaken in this because they actually have an income issue due to part time low paid employment and because their basic household expenses are higher than their income. They need to earn more and/or cut their living expenses - there is no other shortcut.

The OP should focus their efforts on addressing their under employment and be seeking a review of their CV, gaining job seeking advice and support, careers advice, looking into cheap or free part-time college courses that will improve their skills/qualifications and hence their earning capacity. Obviously there is loads of free advice/support available to help them earn more money.

This is in contrast to wasting their time and energy on the unfairness of the benefits system and they should stop fantasising on this as a solution. The OP is 22 or perhaps 23, and therefore the LHA age threshold for shared accommodation that bars them from getting a better rate of LHA will not kick in for another 2 or 3 years. Until about 2013, they'll be eating a lot of lentils.

Not only that, the emergency budget that came in last month makes clear that LHA rates will either be capped or remain static. The move to basing LHA rates on the 30th percentile of local rents instead of the 50th means that LHA will be set on the lowest third of rents in the area instead of the average or median rent. Though its hard to predict in practice what will happen in the OPs case in the next two or three years (in case they were simply hoping that the balance of their rent would be paid then if their income is still that low), the chances are is that their LHA eligibility could still be lower than they hoped.

The OP should have a look a the indicative changes to the future rate of LHA which could make it even tougher for them to make ends meet, even when they qualify for a higher rate of LHA (1 bedroom rate instead of shared property).

http://www.voa.gov.uk/lhadirect/lha-emergency-budget-news-2010.htm

Currently, a single person with no dependents under 25 in Tewkesbury is eligible for a maximum rate of around £66 or £67 per week based on the shared accommodation rate depending on which part they live. Those over 25, are eligible for the 1 bedroom rate of £95 to £113 depending on their postcode. This demonstrates why the OP is struggling as they lose between 33% to 50% of the maximum rate simply by living in a type of property whose rate of LHA doesn't apply to the type of property they chose to live in, despite knowing their lack of eligibility for it.

The above link shows that the 1 bedroom rate could decline from £95 down to £86 for the gloucester postcodes or decrease from £113 down to £103 due to the effect of the budget -staying there until they reach the 25 year age threshold for a self contained property may not leave them much better off. Did the OP even take notice of the budget that will potential slash LHA rates by 10%?

lauren_1

You wouldn't get any extra if you dropped an hour, you wouldnt get IS either, you would get JSA and that would only top you up to the minimum you need to live on.

Indie_Kid

lauren_1 wrote: »

You wouldn't get any extra if you dropped an hour, you wouldnt get IS either, you would get JSA and that would only top you up to the minimum you need to live on.

You're unlikely to ge any JSA with working 15 hours pr week.

lyniced

Haven't read all the threads, but could you up your hours at work?

jw2003

sh1305 wrote: »

You're unlikely to ge any JSA with working 15 hours pr week.

JSA would only top up a wage that is under that amount ie £30 a week would be topped up the £67-ish (can't remember the exact rate sorry)