make do and mend for tougher times

PhGage

kidcat wrote: »

The independant article points out that councils could choose to increase bills overall rather than cut benefit - will be interesting to see how many make that choice.

Yikes. Our Council Tax (Band D) is already 1 of the 5 highest in England: to some extent, that's because it's an area with a lot of households that already need to rely upon CTB assistance (Council Tax - are we all in it together? Anomalies).

Byatt's post prompted me to go and look at the draft proposals on my own council's website. Just took a quick look through and it's a mixed package. The Council is proposing that people should pay 20% and above: there are many provisions for exemptions and transitional arrangements. However, between those, and the very high number of retired households that are protected, it looks as if there will be an eye-watering increase for those of us of working age.

I imagine that on balance I'd approve of the extensive list of exemptions that protect carers, low-income second adults and non-dependant adult children - it looks like other Councils aren't doing that. Understandably, those sensible exemptions, coupled with a decrease in the amount the Town Council receives in funding from the County Council, means that we're probably going to have another increase for next year, on top of this year's.

It's a little alarming.

ETA: my local MP keeps bragging about the local Foodbank needing to move to larger premises as if that's a source of pride rather than deep shame in a fairly well to do country in the 21st Century. That Foodbank is already assisting a much greater number of people than it was 2 years ago, as is the local Christians Against Poverty group. I'm not sure where working age people who can't afford another increase will be able to go for assistance.

short_bird

prepareathome wrote: »

Nar we want to put them all in social or private housing - the worst conditions mind you and the make them live on benefits, but not straight away, they have to wait while lost files are found, money that should have been paid wasn't. Visit upon them every indignity that the welfare state has ever visited on anyone........

It should be law if you want to be an MP you have to live like this for a couple of years at the very least, oh yes and even if they are healthy they must be treated as if they have a Mental Health Problem or ME/Fibro etc......and have all the fun that goes with that (if they are healthy to start with I doubt they will be by the end).

Can we have them move to a property with rats, cockroaches and bedbugs in a location where they can't call the council for free pest control because the council have had to cut back on services? And the visit to eradicate the problem cost them a week's benefits?;)

Sorry I mentioned those creatures, by the way.

meme30

kittie wrote: »

I feel really churned up about the fact that some on here think pensioners have it easy. All I can say is that the ones who saved and provided for their old age are being hammered. No HB and pension top ups etc . The ones who appear to be relatively better off are the ones who rely on the state and who get the extra handouts

Many of us were brought up to just get on with it, to make the best of whatever life threw at us and that included taking in lodgers, which was a very common occurrence and happened in my own family, through several generations. Most of us were lucky to have one small tv and one radio per family, no internet of course so no electronic games that are now the `must haves` and which also consume a lot of energy. No carpets, lino was the norm and I could go on. Most people rented and some dragged themselves up by their bootlaces to better themselves, many of those are now asking why the heck they bothered

We either got pessimistic and got swallowed up or we stayed optimistic and took very small steps to survival. I am an optimist and was born that way and even while I helped prepare the half pigs head that was our meal for nine for two days and I stayed an optimist as I shared a room with four others and walked two miles to school every day. I realised that the worse thing ever was to be dependent on society and we, in our struggling family, took responsibility for ourselves. Now I`ll get me hat because no doubt I`ll be shouted down in flames

Don't be daft, you'll not get shouted at!:eek:

It's not the pensioners who are in the wrong, its this awful government. I do think that like the sick, pensioners are going to become the media's next target. So if you have one, a tin hat might be best! :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

BYATT - he's bigger than me, so I have to obey!!!!! - Seriously, I know just how lucky I am to have had his backing ( not always his understanding) through our lives together - all our decisions are made by both of us, we don't always see situations exactly the same way but, as in all things there is a point at which you reach the compromise spot and can move forward. We do not want to be beholden to anyone for any reason at all - and are more than prepared to put ourselves out to achieve that end!!!!! Cheers Lyn and Docky xxxxx.

Byatt

Phgage, here's an example my council have giving for the following.

Change Two: limiting the amount of Council Tax
support for working age people to a Band D charge

Currently there are no restrictions on the amount of Council Tax Benefit that can be paid. This means that a person on a low income could get all their Council Tax paid even if they live in a large house with a high Council Tax band. The lowest band is A, with the highest being H. Change Two would limit this to the Band D charge, which is the average band. So, if you live in a Band E, F, G or H property, we would reduce your Council Tax Support to that of a Band D householder.

Example
Mr R lives in a Band G home. His Council Tax is £2,500 and he currently gets £2,500 (100 per cent) in benefit so he pays nothing.
Under Change Two he would pay £1,000 which is the difference between Band D and Band G charge.
Additionally, under Change One he would pay £450 because of the 70 per cent restriction (30 per cent of £1,500) a total of £1,450.

Byatt

another:

Currently we are able to help people on the lowest incomes by paying all of their Council Tax (100 per cent). Under the new Council Tax Support scheme, everyone of working age who now gets Council Tax Benefit would pay an extra 30 per cent of their full Council Tax. This would be on top of whatever level of Council Tax they are already paying. This means that the maximum amount of Council Tax Support that could be claimed is reduced from 100 per cent to 70 per cent.

Example one
Mr and Mrs T's annual Council Tax charge is £1,200. They currently get £500 in Council Tax Benefit so pay the remaining £700. Under the new scheme they would only get £140 in Council Tax Support so would have to pay £1,060 which is £360 more.

Example two
Mr and Mrs H live in a property with an annual Council Tax charge of £1,000. They currently get full Council Tax Benefit (100 per cent) so do not pay anything. Under the new scheme they would now pay £300 (30 per cent of £1,000).

smileyt_2

Kittie I won't be shouting at you either. My Mum and Dad have worked hard all their lives and now, in 'retirement', my Dad is still taking shifts on the buses to try and build up a cushion. They are just over the limit for any help at all which effectively makes them worse off. The only good thing is that at least my Dad can work days now when he chooses and doesn't have to do the silly shifts that start at 4am or finish at midnight.

This government has already set the healthy against the sick and disabled, the workers against the unemployed, and is now trying to set the young against the old, all in the name of keeping votes so that they can make their rich pals richer. As Greyqueen said, retired people vote, so keeping them 'sweet' is a political move on the government's part.

Some people have no choice but to rely on benefits to top-up low wages. 7 out of 8 HB/CTB claimants are working in low waged jobs and it is these people, and the ones whose only income is benefits, who will be hit hardest. I'm one of them. I don't want to start a 'race' to the bottom, but I have no car, no tv, I don't smoke or drink or live on take-aways, my carpets all have holes in them, my furniture is second-hand, I've only had one holiday in the last twelve years, and I take in a lodger to make ends meet (well, because I also want to support young people but I couldn't do it without the expenses payment the charity provides). I suppose the dogs could be seen as luxuries, but they have actually saved the NHS a fortune as they've helped with my mental health problems and kept me active and stopped me from going over the edge many times. In fact the only luxury is my internet access but even this has saved me money because I've been able to access stuff like Approved Foods, and given me support because of places like this forum. So I am surviving, and I don't feel 'hard done to' because I keep busy and occupied, but I am worried that at some stage in the future I will lose my home because I can't afford to pay for it. I've lived on my street for 18 years and have been very active in the community and know all my neighbours and this is home, but it now feels like a very insecure home and I know that is going to mess with my head. Even many social landlords wouldn't accept two dogs even if there were any one-bedroomed places round here. If I ended up having to rehome the dogs that would be the end for me. Sorry to be so blunt, but it would.

And that is why I am so angry. Because we are not 'all in it together'. The people at the top have no idea how hard the people at the bottom are struggling. Yes there are some 'career benefit claimants' but the government is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I agree that it is better for people to stand on their own two feet, but the capitalist system is so stacked against them that for many it is impossible. Under this system there needs to be people at the bottom so that the people at the top can tread on them and that is wrong. I don't know what the answer is but it's not what the government is doing now, scapegoating those at the bottom instead of addressing inequalities.

Sorry for another rant. I am going to put my soapbox in the attic for a while and retire to my padded room ......

recoverydust

That council tax stuff is well scary... Let's hope Scottish councils don't join in....
Xxx

prepareathome

:eek:I only know what pensioners receive who have no other income bar from the state through my friend and she, although she will never agree, has a good income, but she sees on the Tv or listens on the radio to others going on and on about how poor pensioners are and so assumes it is so. She cannot get her head round the fact she has a good income and its far more than ours - last night she kept saying to me but Mr Pah works even part time so you must be better off. To her if you work your wealthy and nothing will change that. She is a very old fashioned 70 and in many ways still lives in the 1950s and has the same world view her parents had. Her husband had an accident and was unable to work from age 30(she was 20 by then) and he did not believe in woman working so although she worked for a short time before she married as she married at 17 she has never worked since By the time he died when she was in her early 40s it never entered her head to go to work and no one ever considered she should.

So she has been on benefits most of her life and years ago it was a struggle as benefits were very low and even though now she is getting far,far more money in her mind its still a pittance as she assumes if she gets that much now then wages must have gone up a lot as well. Her daughter who is nearly 40 cannot get her to believe she is actually getting a good income and if her daughter complains about bills etc my friend will be on the phone to me saying how she cannot understand how her daughter cannot manage as she does on her small income. Her daughter and partner have 2 teenage daughters and a joint income of around £20k with everything for them all and friend has around £17k for herself.....we have to agree to disagree over what we each believe about her income.

I have a small pension I am supposed to come into at 60 from work but whether this will happen or they will hold off till I am 67 I don't know, will actually have to look into it. It was locked when I left so could not add any more to the pot. I don't know who its with or ever hear about it as was all done by CAA as part of our payment package. Hubby also has one as he contracted out for a few years and we added money to it. We get an annual statement for is and it doesn't make good reading.

I feel so guilty that I cannot get out and work I have racked and racked my brains for something I could do but every home job needs commitment and no place for someone that might not be able to do it for months at a time even if its only something you do from laptop in bed. Its so frustrating and annoying having to reply on the whims of the DWP I know they could remove my ESA at any time and I live in fear of hubby coming home and saying his firm is closing.

So I do what I can- stocking up as best I can and learning how to grow my own vegetables and hopefully get sewing machine going so can make my own clothes(Oh my WI doesn't do anything except have monthly meetings and outings no classes or anything like that, a very modern one)

I know I am very lucky at least I do have hubby bringing in something (worked it out our CT is equal to nearly a month and a halfs combined income of hubby and mine and rent is another 5 months combined income.......so that is over half our income spent on CT and rent before we spend on anything else, its scary when you work it out like that. Our rent isn't as high as what is being charged for the houses by me that have been bought and now rented out as I enquired out of nosiness last time one was offered for rent, if we had to pay that it would take about 9 months of our income then. CT here is one of the highest in the country even on Band A which we are.

Jeepers I am being a right old misery guts, no more going to have a look at halogen ovens as wasn't sure my plan to buy one this week would come off as son called last week to say he has lost his job( he and 50 others, but as they were all technically self-employed no redundancy and he wouldn't able to meet his car payment which comes out of our bank as he couldn't get finance and talked hubby into getting it for him(12K:eek:) and payment due out on 15th and although been asking hubby for months to change date to 16th same as I had done for all of our bills he of course hadn't and it would have meant I had to keep my money today to pay sons car, but as hubby was not in work this morning I got him up at 9 to call the finance company and thankfully car payment will go out 16th from hubby's wages........we will still pay for it but thankfully this month the way things work out our CT which council will only accept on certain days so comes out on 21st doesn't have to come out of his wages but can come out of my money which is again due on 21st. Just lucky I had no plans apart from shopping for that fortnights money.

I could keep the money and not buy halogen oven but son is already moaning how he will have to sorn car as he cannot now afford the insurance and hinting can we pay it (£165pm) and no way am I paying for that, only paying for car as finance is in hubby's name so its him that would have black mark against him if it was defaulted on. I would rather give them the £125pm car money as money for food and essential bills.

So got to call and cancel Sky - this was last bit of luxury for hubby not me, but he was fool enough to let son talk him into getting the finance even though I had said no way to son. I wouldn't have minded if he had bought a cheap to run car but its a MG top road tax and a gas guzzler, but is a saloon....so I will get my halogen and hubby will lose sky as we might be paying out this extra £125 for a long time to come, so store cupboard will soon no longer exist and I am not happy about that. Son has signed on and waiting to see what benefits they get for couple with two children 7 and nearly 3. They already get CTC so not sure if they will go up and they get CB so they have enough money for food and the guy the rent house from has said he is happy to wait till HB sorted as house was inherited from his aunt so all paid for so rent money is just extra income.

So off to tighten the belt and cancel sky.......and not have a happy hubs when he is told its done, told him already its got to go but he is hoping I somehow find a way of keeping it and pay sons car.....

Car could go back but we are not sure how that would affect hubby as our little car is 7 years old so one day will need replaced and so have to get finance and returning a car might either stop him getting finance or only get one on exorbitant rates.

Hugs and Love to allxxxx

prepareathome

Possession wrote: »

What a ridiculous situation. DH is getting stressed through having too many job interviews. He has another tomorrow (for a job he really wants), a recruitment agent on Friday and two more interviews being arranged and they keep clashing with each other. I'm trying to get him to look on the bright side which is that employers want to interview him but he isn't seeing it at the moment, nervous for tomorrow I think. Surely he has to get a job out of this?!!

Oh Possession am wishing him all the best, poor guy,can understand why he is so nervous with all that is going on around him( I mean the cuts not family)........xxxxx