Welfare Reform

fatbelly

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

A somewhat puzzling press article (too me anyway)

No mention of arrears, associated debt and other problems then, is there??

Oh, maybe everything is OK.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-benefit-data-published-on-reforms-to-restore-fairness

Meanwhile, back in the real world??

My opinions

I believe the second section should have been headed "More misinformation"

Depth_Charge

fatbelly wrote: »

I believe the second section should have been headed "More misinformation"

Hi

Nice one!

DC

Depth_Charge

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why can't three single people share them? That seems the obvious solution to me.Two solutions in fact, because most single people can't get social housing and will have to share in the private sector.

Hi

Food for thought:)

DC

Depth_Charge

Growurown wrote: »

Yes it's strange there isn't any mention of the problems tenants are having finding this money.

Hi

The wrong sort of 'snow' maybe?

Hold on, covering of snow should it be, ahh you will know what I mean:)

My take

Find_The_Real

Well at least with the bedroom tax still in the news means the government can gloss over the fact it has now changed the appeals process for their very flawed ESA claims procedures.

Their latest rules of having to go through mandatory reconsideration rather than direct appeal just means the most vulnerable will loose even more benefits.

Having helped with an appeal in the last 6 months I can see why due to this people who are disabled and have been given the wrong decision by some incompetent "medically qualified" ATOS employee with a NVQ in childcare, just won't bother as they will be denied benefits if they do this.

I presume this is what the government is hoping for to show it is committed to preventing disputes and reducing the escalation of disputes

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/appeals-process-changes-for-dwp-benefits-and-child-maintenance

Growurown

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why can't three single people share them? That seems the obvious solution to me.Two solutions in fact, because most single people can't get social housing and will have to share in the private sector.

Yes this would seem a good solution and some Housing Associations are now doing this. In Monmouthshire friends can apply for joint tenancy now. Some tenants have had difficulty though proving that they are just sharing the property and are not actually a couple. One person I know rented her spare room out to an ex partner and her money was stopped because they thought they were living together. Might not have been the best option to have taken, letting rooms out to ex's though!

The appeals process is a concern too. I think there are going to be some very vulnerable people slipping through the net because of this change to the system.

Depth_Charge

Hi

Here is a very interesting report (Scottish Parliament) on the bedroom tax

Worth a read

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8620&mode=pdf

My view

fatbelly

A lot of reading there but the tone gets set early on:

I believe that there is general consensus in Scotland that the bedroom tax is a flawed and broken policy that is bereft of any redeeming qualities. I say that with as much sincerity as I possibly can. It represents a social apartheid that is reminiscent of the Victorian era in that those who have disabilities and little money are no longer entitled to their homes. They are expected to relocate to a fantasy world of one-bedroom, shoe-box sized flats that we all know do not exist in Scotland. Those properties are not available here so the policy is unworkable.

Growurown

Absolutely agree with that quote. This policy will cost the taxpayer more in the long run and cause a lot of misery on the way.

Depth_Charge

Hi

Interesting one from Inside Housing -

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/regulation/only-3-of-welsh-bedroom-tax-tenants-able-to-downsize/6529576.article

Unfortunately (in my opinion) the possessions and eviction procedures will start to be 'ratcheted up' in the coming months as the bedroom tax bites and the 'phoney war' comes to an end.

Where are people supposed to go if there are no (or very few) downsized properties available?

Another point is that there are LAs who operate a policy of if someone has rent arrears with them, then they will not re-house anyway!

The figures make no sense, the social landlords & courts are going to end up with little or no choice other than give possession / evict.

Absolute mess and misery developing and basically makes no economic sense.

My opinions