Welfare Reform

Xiderpunk

My personal take on this is about time the welfare system starts to reform, although at the moment the changes do not go far enough. I have worked all my adult life for 24 years. Several times during those years I was out of work, mostly for short term although once for just over a year. I did not claim a penny from the government, instead I lived off savings. I have therefore never received benefits of any kind, ever. Furthermore, for at least the past 10 years I have had BUPA and have not used the NHS in that time. Even my dentist is private because frankly I could not find an NHS dentist since moving.

I have paid and continue to pay almost half my income in tax and national insurance.

I am not complaining about my lot, I would not have it any other way. However it is eternally frustrating knowing that our current system will leave a massive debt legacy for future generations.

If it was up to me, the benefits system would be fair foremost for the tax payer and not for the claimants. I would demonetize it completely, instead food stamps would be given which could only be used on essential food items. Child allowance should be capped at two children. Housing benefit should be capped at 1 year only except for special cases like disability.

It is time people take responsibility for their own lives, this culture of entitlement needs to end.

Growurown

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

So someone can't afford £14 a week out of that?

I'm not saying foster parents don't do a marvellous job. They do. But they are also well paid for doing it.

Sorry but I don't call this well paid. The figures quoted equate to an hourly rate of 78 pence to £1.34 an hour when you consider that the foster parent is responsible for that child for every hour of the day. Out of this the foster parent pays for food, travel, clothing, presents, school expenses etc. Plus many of them have to deal with children with behavioural problems and emotional damage.

Yes I expect foster parents could pay the bedroom tax from their earnings but why should they? They are paid to be a parent to that child so why doesn't that child count when allocating living space? After all people who keep on having more and more kids of their own and expecting the tax payer to support them aren't penalised in this way, yet someone who fosters is.

seven-day-weekend

Growurown wrote: »

Sorry but I don't call this well paid. The figures quoted equate to an hourly rate of 78 pence to £1.34 an hour when you consider that the foster parent is responsible for that child for every hour of the day. Out of this the foster parent pays for food, travel, clothing, presents, school expenses etc. Plus many of them have to deal with children with behavioural problems and emotional damage.

Yes I expect foster parents could pay the bedroom tax from their earnings but why should they? They are paid to be a parent to that child so why doesn't that child count when allocating living space? After all people who keep on having more and more kids of their own and expecting the tax payer to support them aren't penalised in this way, yet someone who fosters is.

I think foster children should be counted when assessing how many bedrooms a family needs. All I said is that a foster parent can afford to pay the extra out of the fostering allowance.

Depth_Charge

Hi

Interesting article from Carers UK - 2 million stop work to be carers -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21695284

Also - the OFT 'acts' against leading Payday Lenders

http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2013/20-13

It looks like its only '50' leading payday lenders who make up 90% of the market that they are 'acting' against, so, nothing wrong with the payday loan business & market then.

Will it be enough, what do you think, me, well no it wont, its a snow job, too late and more vulnerable people will fall prey, especially with the welfare reforms.

Advice agencies having to pick up the utter misery, especially the face to face ones as always.

My take

stitching_witch

Could I just put in a word for the people it will affect? We have lived in my council house for fifteen years, firstly as a couple with our three children, and now just as a couple. Originally we were told it was a home for life so we have spent hundreds of pounds (and many thousands of man-hours) on turning it into the home we always wanted.

My husband does agency work so is not always guaranteed an income each week. He is partially disabled and cannot go back to the engineering job which used to pay a living wage. I work part-time at a low wage so my income cannot support us between his contracts. The reason I work part-time is so I can grow my fledgling business on the other two days a week. At the moment I am struggling to get orders so my £700 employment income is all I get and, at times, our only income. During those times we have to claim a helping hand from Housing Benefits.

If we can't find the extra 25% of our rent (which we probably wouldn't be able to do) we will have to move out of the house we have nurtured and loved and spent all our time and money upgrading. If we had known fifteen years ago this was going to happen I would never have grown apple trees to feed us in our retirement, or installed a Victorian fireplace to heat us in our dotage or fitted a Rayburn to provide us with hot water and keep us fed using free firewood we collect from the local wood.

I understand families need to be housed, but I do feel a little cheated.

seven-day-weekend

stitching_witch wrote: »

Could I just put in a word for the people it will affect? We have lived in my council house for fifteen years, firstly as a couple with our three children, and now just as a couple. Originally we were told it was a home for life so we have spent hundreds of pounds (and many thousands of man-hours) on turning it into the home we always wanted.

My husband does agency work so is not always guaranteed an income each week. He is partially disabled and cannot go back to the engineering job which used to pay a living wage. I work part-time at a low wage so my income cannot support us between his contracts. The reason I work part-time is so I can grow my fledgling business on the other two days a week. At the moment I am struggling to get orders so my £700 employment income is all I get and, at times, our only income. During those times we have to claim a helping hand from Housing Benefits.

If we can't find the extra 25% of our rent (which we probably wouldn't be able to do) we will have to move out of the house we have nurtured and loved and spent all our time and money upgrading. If we had known fifteen years ago this was going to happen I would never have grown apple trees to feed us in our retirement, or installed a Victorian fireplace to heat us in our dotage or fitted a Rayburn to provide us with hot water and keep us fed using free firewood we collect from the local wood.

I understand families need to be housed, but I do feel a little cheated.

Is there any reason why you can't have a lodger? After October 2013 you will be able to keep all the income without it affecting your Benefits. Then you can pay the extra rent out of that.

You HAVE got a home for life, which is more than those who are in private rental have (and they pay more for the privilege of unsecure tenancies). No-one is forcing you out of it, there are things you can do to generate the extra income.

Even owner-occupiers often have to downsize. You're not unique. We have owned our house for nearly 40 years, but will downsize to a flat if/when we don't want the hassle of the maintenance and the garden. We've spent £1000s making it into a home too.

tpl

stitching_witch wrote: »

Could I just put in a word for the people it will affect? We have lived in my council house for fifteen years, firstly as a couple with our three children, and now just as a couple. Originally we were told it was a home for life so we have spent hundreds of pounds (and many thousands of man-hours) on turning it into the home we always wanted.

My husband does agency work so is not always guaranteed an income each week. He is partially disabled and cannot go back to the engineering job which used to pay a living wage. I work part-time at a low wage so my income cannot support us between his contracts. The reason I work part-time is so I can grow my fledgling business on the other two days a week. At the moment I am struggling to get orders so my £700 employment income is all I get and, at times, our only income. During those times we have to claim a helping hand from Housing Benefits.

If we can't find the extra 25% of our rent (which we probably wouldn't be able to do) we will have to move out of the house we have nurtured and loved and spent all our time and money upgrading. If we had known fifteen years ago this was going to happen I would never have grown apple trees to feed us in our retirement, or installed a Victorian fireplace to heat us in our dotage or fitted a Rayburn to provide us with hot water and keep us fed using free firewood we collect from the local wood.

I understand families need to be housed, but I do feel a little cheated.

I don't think this is much of a case for the 'cause'! You are very lucky to have had such a stable, low cost home (as has been said) many in private rental properties, or owner occupiers, don't have this luxury. You should consider yourself lucky, and feel grateful, not hard done by! Again, as already has been said, private rentals are very high and generally go up from year to year, mortgages change too, along with fluctuating interest rates.When circumstances/family life changes, lots of people have to move. Everyone who 'lives' somewhere, contributes in some way to upkeep/maintenance/decoration to make it home - it's what most people have to and want to do - it's your life - of course you are doing this - who else! If your business isn't working, perhaps you need to work full time instead, or get a 2nd job. I think the time has come for me to leave the forum - its far too exasparating!!! Just wish I could figure out how to delete my profile!

Depth_Charge

Hi

Interesting article from Inside Housing that touches on where the name 'bedroom tax' originates from and mentions the fostering issue.

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/peer-defends-bedroom-tax-term/6526030.article

This whole welfare reform subject is sure to run and run as a headline talking point as the clock ticks down and the financial side becomes a reality for many people and their families - it will affect both people currently in and out of work.

My views

Depth_Charge

Hi

The Archbishop of Canterbury has his say on welfare reform -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21731488

DC

Depth_Charge

Hi

Another link I know, but this BBC one could be significant as it could be a 'tip of the iceberg' sign of what is to come.

Welfare reform trial sees rent arrears rise......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21725686

Rent arrrears can lead to court possession action, with added costs and so on.

*Also note the line where it mentions the possibility of pushing Landlords into financial difficulty.

Tricky times ahead, its got to be best to read up and prepare as these changes are imminent now and they will affect budgeting, finances & debt arrangements etc, it's a certainty.

My opinions