Welfare Reform

Depth_Charge

Hi

Housing Benefit challenge dismissed by High Court -

Disabled families have lost a court challenge to social housing benefit cuts for residents with spare bedrooms in England, Wales and Scotland.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23503095

Depth_Charge

Hi

Concerning article on the bedroom tax from Inside Housing

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/care/bedroom-tax-safety-warning/6528165.article

Unfortunately but not a surprise, I am seeing a growing number of people with rent arrears and possession proceedings with the bedroom tax being a factor.

Very difficult at times to put a realistic Financial Statement together and convince the District Judge that it is sustainable especially in the case of single people on basic benefits and that's without any other debts.

The other problem is that Local Authorities are saying they wont re-house into another property while there are rent arrears outstanding and sometimes this is also the case if there are C.tax arrears.

Not good, catch 22 and an awful mess developing on a disturbing scale for people and families that are being affected

It is dreadful

My take

eyeopener2

Can I ask a question on this?

Everybody knows, or should know, that your rent is paid before anything else. Food next, then utilities.

Why do people get themselves into a situation where the rent has not been paid?

No agenda here, I'm genuinely interested in the reasons.

ifstar

Not everyone will think that way though.
Some people might think that food is more important as they wouldn't get evicted straight away.

eyeopener2

Are you saying that benefits are not high enough to cover rent and food?

ifstar

Not at all, again people have different priorities though. I'm definitely in the camp that benefits should be there to get you through as a push but shouldn't be enough for it to be a lifestyle choice. I'm all for benefits for people who find themselves out of work being possibly at a better rate initially but dropping to a lower rate. Benefits being part paid for food vouchers has also been suggested and many people are against it but I think it could be explored before being dismissed. I've heard the argument about you are telling people how to spend their money, however it's not actually "their" money.

If someone smokes then its £8 for 20 cigarettes. To them this might be a higher priority because they are addicted. They might not be particularly good with food and buy expensive junk food or takeaways rather than cooking for a fraction of the price.

I can't get my head round anyone paying £200 a month on cigarettes. In 4 years you could buy a car outright - crazy.

If you are not working then luxury items should be the first to go however people have got vastly different perceptions of luxury items.

I see from your signature that you've managed to clear £24,000 of debt in 3 years which is a fantastic achievement and you must have put up with a lot of sacrifices to do so, but I think a great many people wouldn't cope with having to do the same do to a perceived standard of living that they believe they are entitled.

Depth_Charge

Hi

There are many reasons why people get into rent and mortgage arrears for that matter along with other debts. You only have too look around this forum and elsewhere to see this.

Basic single person JSA, ESA & I/S is approx £71 per week

Take off £20 quid say to make up the difference in rent payable and Housing Benefit actually paid due to the bedroom tax before you start and it does not look good.

Then say £3 to £5 for the council tax that has been introduced and we are looking at £48 per week.

Normal living costs, gas, electric, water, TV Licence, food & housekeeping, clothes, telephone, travel on top

Then any debt payments including rent arrears, direct deductions from benefit and the sums look dire whichever way you look at them.

If someone comes out of work then they face this type of situation too.

Once the cycle starts then it is difficult to get free, throw in the payday lenders and the game is over.

Cut funding for advice and support, that helps too

All this is doing is putting enormous strain on communities, familes, Advice Centres, GP Surgeries, County Courts, Local Authorities, services and more.

This sort of debt, benefit & housing advice is not the type of thing that certain agencies and profit making companies get too involved in, if at all.

It is dreadful and not even cost effective.

My take

Growurown

Depth_Charge wrote: »

It is dreadful and not even cost effective.

Totally agree. My friend is unemployed and she has the basic JSA payment. She has lived in her 3 bed house for many years and brought her children up there. She is now living on her own and is having to find an extra £22 a week from her £71 to pay her rent. She is an honest person and doesn't cheat the system yet I know she goes without food and definitely goes without heating in the winter. She does make sure her rent is paid first and has applied for the discretionary payment to help her out but she has had to go to the food bank in the past week and I and our other friends try to help her out as much as we can.

This won't be cost effective as people will be made homeless and if children are involved then they must be cared for and can't be left on the streets. Does this mean more people in B&B accommodation, children being taken into care maybe, more crime, more people ending up in hospital from having to live in the street?

My friend is desperately trying to move but there just aren't enough single bedroomed properties on the market. She basically has nowhere to go to. Initially her housing association wouldn't allow a single person to bid for anything other than a one bed place, but they have seen sense and will now allow her to bid for a two bed place which will be a bit cheaper to rent and hopefully cheaper to heat. Unfortunately due to a disability she has to have a ground floor flat and they don't come up very often.

eyeopener2

What's the situation in the private sector rentals?

[Deleted User]

eyeopener2 wrote: »

Why do people get themselves into a situation where the rent has not been paid?

"Rent first" was drummed into us, from an early age.

My father was made redundant, several times in quick succession (last in first out) in the mid 70s.

While we had the electricity cut off a couple of times, my mother saw to it that the rent was always paid.