Welfare Reform

Depth_Charge

Hi

Huge increase in rent arrears since April 2013 with things set to get worse according to this article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24149763

Will some people ever be debt free?

Will Debt Relief Orders increase?

The underlying knock on effect has to be substantial

My take

Growurown

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

Huge increase in rent arrears since April 2013 with things set to get worse according to this article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24149763

Will some people ever be debt free?

Will Debt Relief Orders increase?

The underlying knock on effect has to be substantial

My take

This is a dreadful state of affairs. On a radio interview this morning it was said people haven't had enough time to adapt to the changes. What nonsense. Surely common sense will tell you that someone on £71 a week JSA will already be struggling to make ends meet without throwing bedroom tax in as well. I'm not sure what this government is hoping to achieve with this scheme. Somehow I don't get the feeling that it is all about making housing available for families. It's to push people into taking work, any work. Yes you can say that they should work and why should the taxpayer support them when they can work? However in some areas of the country the work is very thin on the ground, and some people haven't been able to get jobs for a long time, but they are still having to pay this money they can't afford.

fatbelly

Growurown wrote: »

This is a dreadful state of affairs. On a radio interview this morning it was said people haven't had enough time to adapt to the changes. What nonsense. Surely common sense will tell you that someone on £71 a week JSA will already be struggling to make ends meet without throwing bedroom tax in as well.

and council tax. My local authority requires everyone of working age to pay 25% of the standard rate. That's because we have a lot of older retired people, and they're protected. Also, if you're under 25, JSA is £56.80 !!

Growurown wrote: »

I'm not sure what this government is hoping to achieve with this scheme. Somehow I don't get the feeling that it is all about making housing available for families. It's to push people into taking work, any work. Yes you can say that they should work and why should the taxpayer support them when they can work? However in some areas of the country the work is very thin on the ground, and some people haven't been able to get jobs for a long time, but they are still having to pay this money they can't afford.

Yes. As Blackadder would say: 'There's one problem with this plan - it's b*ll*cks'

I quoted him out of context. For those who don't remember the exchange it went like this:

Captain Blackadder: You see, Baldrick, in order to prevent war in Europe, two superblocs developed: us, the French and the Russians on one side, and the Germans and Austro-Hungary on the other. The idea was to have two vast opposing armies, each acting as the other's deterrent. That way there could never be a war.

Private Baldrick: But, this is a sort of a war, isn't it, sir?

Captain Blackadder: Yes, that's right. You see, there was a tiny flaw in the plan.

Private Baldrick: What was that, sir?

Captain Blackadder: It was b*ll*cks

Depth_Charge

Hi

Another report that paints a worse picture than the previous

http://www.housing.org.uk/media/press-releases/more-than-half-of-families-hit-by-bedroom-tax-pushed-into-debt

Things are starting to get serious with the bedroom tax

Get help ASAP, don't let things get out of hand with the priorities such as your rent.

Don't listen to people who may suggest you can live on bread and water expenditure just to pay less important debts.

Don't struggle as much where you don't need to, get genuine independent impartial advice to help you through these tough times.

That's where I stand

Upsidedown_Bear

Growurown wrote: »

This is a dreadful state of affairs. On a radio interview this morning it was said people haven't had enough time to adapt to the changes. What nonsense. Surely common sense will tell you that someone on £71 a week JSA will already be struggling to make ends meet without throwing bedroom tax in as well. I'm not sure what this government is hoping to achieve with this scheme. Somehow I don't get the feeling that it is all about making housing available for families. It's to push people into taking work, any work. Yes you can say that they should work and why should the taxpayer support them when they can work? However in some areas of the country the work is very thin on the ground, and some people haven't been able to get jobs for a long time, but they are still having to pay this money they can't afford.

The problem with that (are you listening Mr Cameron?) is that we don't have 100% employment. Despite what certain parts of the media would have you believe the vast majority of unemployed people want to work but there aren't enough jobs.

I agree - it's a dreadful state of affairs. Blackadder was right too.

Upsidedown_Bear

Just read this:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/20/bedroom-tax-despair-tory-village

Growurown

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

The problem with that (are you listening Mr Cameron?) is that we don't have 100% employment. Despite what certain parts of the media would have you believe the vast majority of unemployed people want to work but there aren't enough jobs.

Agreed and there are so many barriers for people to overcome before they get into work. In some of the valleys areas there is a very low skill set and the sort of jobs people can apply for are limited. These jobs tend to be minimum wage and quite often have unsocial hours, but the public transport doesn't run at the times they need them. Child care is a real problem too.

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

Just read this:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/20/bedroom-tax-despair-tory-village

This is exactly why the bedroom tax should be dropped.

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

Another report that paints a worse picture than the previous

http://www.housing.org.uk/media/press-releases/more-than-half-of-families-hit-by-bedroom-tax-pushed-into-debt

Things are starting to get serious with the bedroom tax

Get help ASAP, don't let things get out of hand with the priorities such as your rent.

Don't listen to people who may suggest you can live on bread and water expenditure just to pay less important debts.

Don't struggle as much where you don't need to, get genuine independent impartial advice to help you through these tough times.

That's where I stand

Good advice. When are this government going to realise that this part of welfare reform isn't working and is causing people a great deal of stress and unhappiness.

Depth_Charge

Growurown wrote: »

Agreed and there are so many barriers for people to overcome before they get into work. In some of the valleys areas there is a very low skill set and the sort of jobs people can apply for are limited. These jobs tend to be minimum wage and quite often have unsocial hours, but the public transport doesn't run at the times they need them. Child care is a real problem too.



This is exactly why the bedroom tax should be dropped.



Good advice. When are this government going to realise that this part of welfare reform isn't working and is causing people a great deal of stress and unhappiness.

Hi

I agree

Depth_Charge

Hi

Energy prices and winter coming could bring untold misery on top of the bedroom tax etc

CAB press release highlights these fears with a stark warning

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_office-20130924.htm

Citizens Advice's big puncher Gillian once again tells it as it is!

And once again she is absolutely right

Real tough times ahead here, and unfortunately there is no getting away from it

Get advice and prepare

My take

Depth_Charge

Hi

Another CAB branch (Northampton I think) launches a welfare reform website

http://www.welfarereformadvice.org.uk/

Looks good, well done Northampton

My opinions