Welfare Reform

Depth_Charge

mrs_motivated wrote: »

I would agree that with the last 2 posts, Welfare Reform is necessary and there are some positives to universal credit it they ever get the Real time IT system ready. However, many tenants will initially struggle with direct monthly payments, actually applying as a survey we recently did, showed that whilst 90 % of claimants do have interest access the majority of these had access to a smart phone ( no plans for an UC app). Also for those in work, if their employer is not on real time tax system, which many small business are not, folk will need to remember to submit monthly figures.

Initially it will be difficult with rent arrears expected to significantly increase, however, with support ( not sure who will provide this with the other cuts, but I expect the burden will fall on landlords)... Long term I believe there will be positives.

Bedroom tax, however, should be scrapped it's costing to much and increasing the HB bill, increasing voids and higher void costs, increasing staff bill to collect and deal with increased arrears and voids....no to mention the human cost.


Again my views

Hi

You make really some good points here especially the bottom paragraph.

It wants scrapping, ill thought out, not working and makes no economic sense.

Interesting development today on the bedroom tax below -

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/victory-in-shared-care-bedroom-tax-tribunal/6529648.article#.Uo-jM12mUdw.twitter

My opinions as always

Depth_Charge

Hi

Another interesting article here on potential costs re: Universal Credit training and budgeting etc.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/21/universal-credit-benefit-training-cost-millions?CMP=twt_gu

DC

Growurown

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

Another interesting article here on potential costs re: Universal Credit training and budgeting etc.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/21/universal-credit-benefit-training-cost-millions?CMP=twt_gu

DC

Yes it makes a lot of good points. Part of my work in the community is talking about money and budgeting. Although there has been much publicity about UC I find it very concerning that a lot of people I talk to still don't know much about it. When they realise their money will be paid monthly and they will be responsible for paying their own rent they get very worried. Many only have a post office account and finding ID to open a bank account is a real problem too. Internet access is another difficulty. Those with no Internet access go to the local library which is under threat of closure with all the cuts. For some disabled people the library is too far to walk to and the bus fare is expensive.

I see IDS has called it a chance for claimants to "get back in to the 21st century". Unfortunately a lot of them aren't interested and don't want to learn how to use a computer.

Depth_Charge

Growurown wrote: »

Yes it makes a lot of good points. Part of my work in the community is talking about money and budgeting. Although there has been much publicity about UC I find it very concerning that a lot of people I talk to still don't know much about it. When they realise their money will be paid monthly and they will be responsible for paying their own rent they get very worried. Many only have a post office account and finding ID to open a bank account is a real problem too. Internet access is another difficulty. Those with no Internet access go to the local library which is under threat of closure with all the cuts. For some disabled people the library is too far to walk to and the bus fare is expensive.

I see IDS has called it a chance for claimants to "get back in to the 21st century". Unfortunately a lot of them aren't interested and don't want to learn how to use a computer.

Hi

Yes, the article is one of the best I have seen yet covering the reality and potential issues (including debt) of such a huge change in the way benefits are administered.

You also make some very good points.

As is usually the case once the mist starts to clear with these type of announcements and plans it comes down to the people who are genuinely affected and others at the front line.

The whole welfare reform programme has been used as a cheap jack scapegoating exercise by some (I am talking about politically & media wise) and the comments made by them could well come back to haunt somewhere down the line.

I personally do not think the welfare reform programme is going well or is on course as some have spouted and predicted on the TV and in the papers and elsewhere and there does seem to be people in public office and media who appear to be keeping a little low of late.

It will not be the above who will suffer and have to sort out the mess though will it, it never is...is it?

Just for the record I am not posting in any political way as all parties agree that there has to be change its just that many of us predicted that certain areas of the welfare reform programme would not be as simple and straightforward as was suggested.

Unfortunately we are being proved right.

There has to be a re-think on some aspects of welfare reform (and there likely will be)

The self contradicting, awful and ill thought out bedroom tax policy just wants chucking out altogether.

My opinions, views & take as always

Upsidedown_Bear

Now IDS wants to get rid of the WRAG group:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/23/iain-duncan-smith-wrag-benefit-cuts

fatbelly

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

Now IDS wants to get rid of the WRAG group:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/23/iain-duncan-smith-wrag-benefit-cuts

I know what I'd like to get rid of

Growurown

IDS lives in a £2 million, 16th-century Tudor farmhouse with tennis court, swimming pool and orchards and earns £121,840 according to this article. His four children are all privately educated and he has an estimated £1.17 million fortune.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-198615/Profile-Betsy-Duncan-Smith.html

Well he's OK then and so are his kids. If he becomes ill he won't have any worries will he? The inequity is mind boggling.

John1993_2

Growurown wrote: »

Well he's OK then and so are his kids. If he becomes ill he won't have any worries will he? The inequity is mind boggling.

Well, you could look at it another way. As a higher rate taxpayer he's presumably well placed to understand that the tax burden is quite high, and it's always worth looking at ways to reduce it.

Growurown

John1993 wrote: »

Well, you could look at it another way. As a higher rate taxpayer he's presumably well placed to understand that the tax burden is quite high, and it's always worth looking at ways to reduce it.

There's plenty of other ways to reduce it without taking it from the poor and sick.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/23/iain-duncan-smith-wrag-benefit-cuts

seven-day-weekend

Next year I am going to be involved in a Job Club organised by CAP (Christians Against Poverty). I can see that one of the functions of this is going to be to help people access their Benefits, as well as helping them with CVs, job applications etc.

CAP already run a budgeting course, so the two things should work together well.

I can see this sort of help and support being largely in the voluntary sector, especially now when CABs are closing or limiting the help they can give, ditto local libraries.

Hopefully people will be helped.