Bedroom Tax for 13 months?

daimonde

306chris wrote: »

Ok. If I were to apply your siituation to my local authority then you would have no chance. Firstly discretionary payments are for those in real need who cant improve their circumstances e.g. those that maybe house bound. You could take on a part time job, work from home etc

Secondly in my area discretionary payments will only last for 13 weeks. You'd need to check with your LA. However as the old saying goes, if you dont ask....

Sorry if I sounded harsh, I am in the same boat as you. In our house we have just budgeted to fit the payments in by cutting back on savings, entertainments, clothing, car has gone (I know you need this)

The DHP scheme we're going to operate come April will be the same 13week limit, but given the circumstances, id say unlikely to receive anything going off our scheme - however as above, each LA will be slightly different.

Ive said this in another post, the DHP budgets are likely to be hammered due to the bedroom tax - we have 120 applications queued at present, which is 100+ more than normal. Ours and neighbouring LAs have drawn up a DHP policy for the first time due to the 'bedroom tax' and it is far stricter than previously.

Might be worth seeing if your LA has a policy on their website.

little-spender

Usually Colleges and Uni's have discretionary funds. The person who deals with funding should be able to help you.
Usually you have to apply at the beginning of term, but some may hold back funds for later in the term.

[Deleted User]

Willowstudent wrote: »

I do get tax credits, but the housing benefit counts that and the student grant as income, so no I don't get 'all but £65' paid. I get the amount that brings my income to the specified minimum level. Well, I now get £65 less than that.

I also have lots of expenses - I commute to uni which costs £50 a week in petrol. I pay a family member for early morning childcare, etc

I wanted an opinion on the bedroom tax. Thank you to the poster who suggested the mystery shopping. I think it is simply going to be a case of generating the extra through a bit of resourcefulness.

cant the 15 year old provide the early morning child care?

mysterywoman10

woodbine wrote: »

cant the 15 year old provide the early morning child care?

That would be unlawful!

Thomas_Hardy

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

That would be unlawful!

Which law would that be? There must be many thousands of people breaking that law every day.

mysterywoman10

daimonde wrote: »

The DHP scheme we're going to operate come April will be the same 13week limit, but given the circumstances, id say unlikely to receive anything going off our scheme - however as above, each LA will be slightly different.

Ive said this in another post, the DHP budgets are likely to be hammered due to the bedroom tax - we have 120 applications queued at present, which is 100+ more than normal. Ours and neighbouring LAs have drawn up a DHP policy for the first time due to the 'bedroom tax' and it is far stricter than previously.

Might be worth seeing if your LA has a policy on their website.

I would have thought they should already had a policy to be frank! I know ours has had one for years

mysterywoman10

If you leave a young child with someone under 18 and something happens like a fire etc you would be found negligent and possibly face criminal proceedings.

There is agreed no specific law unless something happens, which I'm sure you already knew but if you want to be pendant I've explained above.

I don't think the suggestion of leaving young children with a 15 year old is acceptable one.

soontobemrsg

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

That would be unlawful!

Unlawful how? There is actually no law on how old a child has to be to stay at home alone.

If I were in your position I would certainly find a way to shave £14 a week off my current budget. Get over to the oldstyle board for some suggestions or consider posting your SOA for us to have a look at to make some for you.

I would also consider contacting the university to see if there is any discretionary funding available as you've recently had a change of circumstances.

Do you currently claim the childcare element of the student funding?

Ziggazee

Erm.....perhaps shelve your university education for a while and get a job to support your family? You could always go back to it when the children are older

Thomas_Hardy

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

If you leave a young child with someone under 18 and something happens like a fire etc you would be found negligent and possibly face criminal proceedings.

There is agreed no specific law unless something happens, which I'm sure you already knew but if you want to be pendant I've explained above.

I don't think the suggestion of leaving young children with a 15 year old is acceptable one.

Rubbish - thousands of people have fifteen year old babysitters. Are you suggesting that is an unacceptable situation?