Housing benefit and under occupancy

bright_side

When I spoke to my housing officer when I first found out about the bedroom tax, it was clear that he felt it wasn't the cleverest of ideas and one of the things he highlighted was people in properties who had had adaptions made because of their disabilities. Any new property they move to would have to be adapted and they can't just put anyone into the old property, it would have to be someone who needed the same adaptions. I seriously think that some of the new rulings need a re think!!

Pippagirl, have you actually spoken to anyone regarding your situation?

PippaGirl_2

Nope, as we are full here atm so none of this applies to me. It will be interesting if a time comes when I have a spare bedroom or two and they want to charge me for it and they talk to me about that and realise I would have to pay thousands of pounds ot leave here. However I am banking on being well enough to work in the not too distant future, am definitely aiming for that so it won't affect me at all as I will be paying all my own bills and not claiming HB.

Dunroamin

PippaGirl wrote: »

Nope, as we are full here atm so none of this applies to me. It will be interesting if a time comes when I have a spare bedroom or two and they want to charge me for it and they talk to me about that and realise I would have to pay thousands of pounds ot leave here. However I am banking on being well enough to work in the not too distant future, am definitely aiming for that so it won't affect me at all as I will be paying all my own bills and not claiming HB.

Why would it cost you thousands of pounds to move?

princessdon

Although I do feel for those that have disabilities (are they not exclueded for some though)?

I do disagree that DLA shouldn't pay this. It is there to make life easier - and if staying in your own home with equipment makes life easier then surely that is what it is there for?

Also ESA or JSA or Tax Credits all pay more for disabilities so there is that additional premium too.

I am not advocating that this move is sensible but am disagreeing that DLA shouldn't be used to fund this.

I have family members who will be affected but they are the first to admit they'd rather pay than move.

PippaGirl_2

Dunroamin wrote: »

Why would it cost you thousands of pounds to move?

I explained in post 81. I received a Disabled Facilities Grant to adapt my bathroom for my disabilites so I could wash, this cost well into four figures to do. Part of that agreement when you apply for the grant is that if you move within five years of of the work being signed off at the end of the works you have to pay it all back yourself. So if I move before Feb 2017 I will pay to pay that back and I don't have the money so staying put will be cheaper.

nannytone_2

princessdon wrote: »

Although I do feel for those that have disabilities (are they not exclueded for some though)?

I do disagree that DLA shouldn't pay this. It is there to make life easier - and if staying in your own home with equipment makes life easier then surely that is what it is there for?

Also ESA or JSA or Tax Credits all pay more for disabilities so there is that additional premium too.

I am not advocating that this move is sensible but am disagreeing that DLA shouldn't be used to fund this.

I have family members who will be affected but they are the first to admit they'd rather pay than move.

so someome on DLA with a non dependant xhild earning 20k a year gets 100% hb, while a single occupasmt has to pay 14% out of their DLA?

so someone who lives with another person is more worthy of their DLA?

princessdon

nannytone wrote: »

so someome on DLA with a non dependant xhild earning 20k a year gets 100% hb, while a single occupasmt has to pay 14% out of their DLA?

so someone who lives with another person is more worthy of their DLA?

Not at all - someone commented that they could afford this "tax" because of their disability payments, someone stated that wasn't their intent and that DLA wasn't for that use.

It is my *personal* opinion that people can spend their DLA on what they wish to. If this means paying more to stay (as more suitable for them) then why shouldn't they? It's each person's personal choice.

PippaGirl_2

nannytone wrote: »

so someome on DLA with a non dependant xhild earning 20k a year gets 100% hb, while a single occupasmt has to pay 14% out of their DLA?

so someone who lives with another person is more worthy of their DLA?

You are muddling up two different things. If there is a spare bedroom and the claimant is in receipt of HB and lives in social housing they will lose 14% of their HB whether or not they also have a non dependent adult living with them so it makes no difference.

Someone on higher rates of DLA and living alone is able to claim severe disablement premium as well whereas someone on higher rates of DLA living with a non dependent adult can't claim that premium.

nannytone_2

you say that like its a choice,k

in the place that i libe there are 2 1 bedroomed properties. they are supported housing for young people.

i libe in a 2 bed .... not because i cjoose to, but because there is no alternative,

i am disabled and have no real prospects of working . not eben minimally, dont ebem consider that i could earn a living wage.

Popperwell

This thread takes in so many stories of people in work, unemployed and ill if I thought I have enough to cover what is planned I'd stay put but this article tells it like it is about DLA being lost by many, houses that have been adapted for people to live in and if you move what it may cost to readapt new property...

I'll let the article say it all and I don't need add to it...It really could be posted in so many places..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/23/paralympians-state-help-disabled-benefits-cut