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Under Occupancy (Bedroom tax)
MathewJ
Posts: 44 Forumite
Hi peeps,
I'm posting via my partner who has worked for local housing authorities for the last 20+ years as a private contractor.
She has worked for lots of local authorities housing departments on contracts - and we are opening up this thread to try and explain the facts of the new 'bedroom tax' benefit system.
We will give you the facts - even if they are currently unworkable and unfair to many people in tough situations.
To be blunt - unless you are disabled and you can prove you need an overnight carer - or you are a foster carer or a pensioner, you will be liable/effected by the bedroom tax.
Feel free to ask questions - but unless you fit into the exemptions above there is nothing anyone can do. Unless you barrage your local MP.
There are so many men out there that have 2-3 bedroom properties so they can have their kids at weekends and are now being told they have to downsize to a 1 bed property (or under 35 a shared house) I ask how are these fathers going to see their kids, and allow the children to spend the night with their father?
Approx 15 years ago the Government brought in a law about 'fathers being more responsible for their children' IE Absent Fathers. Now those fathers in need of support are unable to let their kids stay overnight, as they have no bedrooms - who is to blame?
The fathers want to have their kids to stay overnight, but the Government will only give them one room if they are on a low income or unemployed.
Dammed if they do, dammed if they don't.
I'm posting via my partner who has worked for local housing authorities for the last 20+ years as a private contractor.
She has worked for lots of local authorities housing departments on contracts - and we are opening up this thread to try and explain the facts of the new 'bedroom tax' benefit system.
We will give you the facts - even if they are currently unworkable and unfair to many people in tough situations.
To be blunt - unless you are disabled and you can prove you need an overnight carer - or you are a foster carer or a pensioner, you will be liable/effected by the bedroom tax.
Feel free to ask questions - but unless you fit into the exemptions above there is nothing anyone can do. Unless you barrage your local MP.
There are so many men out there that have 2-3 bedroom properties so they can have their kids at weekends and are now being told they have to downsize to a 1 bed property (or under 35 a shared house) I ask how are these fathers going to see their kids, and allow the children to spend the night with their father?
Approx 15 years ago the Government brought in a law about 'fathers being more responsible for their children' IE Absent Fathers. Now those fathers in need of support are unable to let their kids stay overnight, as they have no bedrooms - who is to blame?
The fathers want to have their kids to stay overnight, but the Government will only give them one room if they are on a low income or unemployed.
Dammed if they do, dammed if they don't.
If you stay loyal all the time, you get treated like a dog.
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Comments
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Hi peeps,
I'm posting via my partner who has worked for local housing authorities for the last 20+ years as a private contractor.
She has worked for lots of local authorities housing departments on contracts - and we are opening up this thread to try and explain the facts of the new 'bedroom tax' benefit system.
We will give you the facts - even if they are currently unworkable and unfair to many people in tough situations.
To be blunt - unless you are disabled and you can prove you need an overnight carer - or you are a foster carer or a pensioner, you will be liable/effected by the bedroom tax.
Unless your son/daughter(s) are serving in the armed forces.
You also don't need to be a pensioner, just "not of working age".
And, of course, you will be unaffected if you pay your own rent.Feel free to ask questions - but unless you fit into the exemptions above there is nothing anyone can do. Unless you barrage your local MP.
There are so many men out there that have 2-3 bedroom properties so they can have their kids at weekends and are now being told they have to downsize to a 1 bed property (or under 35 a shared house) I ask how are these fathers going to see their kids, and allow the children to spend the night with their father?
For clarity, the under 35 rule doesn't apply to social housing. That's just for private rent, where single fathers claiming access to their kids have never been able to claim the going rate for 2-3 bed properties, unlike their friends in secure, affordable tenancies.Approx 15 years ago the Government brought in a law about 'fathers being more responsible for their children' IE Absent Fathers. Now those fathers in need of support are unable to let their kids stay overnight, as they have no bedrooms - who is to blame?
The fathers want to have their kids to stay overnight, but the Government will only give them one room if they are on a low income or unemployed.
How is the Government funding the rent on their big house in any way, shape or form the same as 'fathers being more responsible for their children'?Dammed if they do, dammed if they don't.
Us? Or them?0 -
like it or lump it and sadly many tax payers like it,the bedroom tax is here and probably here to stay who ever wins the next election0
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lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »Unless your son/daughter(s) are serving in the armed forces.
You also don't need to be a pensioner, just "not of working age".
And, of course, you will be unaffected if you pay your own rent.
For clarity, the under 35 rule doesn't apply to social housing. That's just for private rent, where single fathers claiming access to their kids have never been able to claim the going rate for 2-3 bed properties, unlike their friends in secure, affordable tenancies.
How is the Government funding the rent on their big house in any way, shape or form the same as 'fathers being more responsible for their children'?
Us? Or them?
Don't get me wrong here - I've never claimed benefits and paid over £250,00 in tax so far, I've got another 20 years to go - so i expect this to hit £500,000 in tax from just my little self. So I hope you will allow me to have an opinion?
I also have kids from a split marriage - but never been so desperate to consider claiming off my government for a helping hand.
However the new 'bedroom tax' is going to cause social issues that will impact the most vulnerable - suicide rates of males with young kids are alarmingly high.
Working men who need a little extra help with the benefits system - IE £40 a week maybe, this is now being taken away. Forcing them to downsize to a property (or bedroom) that can no longer house his own kids to deliver the shared responsibility of having shared custody of the children.If you stay loyal all the time, you get treated like a dog.0 -
Don't get me wrong here - I've never claimed benefits and paid over £250,00 in tax so far, I've got another 20 years to go - so i expect this to hit £500,000 in tax from just my little self. So I hope you will allow me to have an opinion?
I also have kids from a split marriage - but never been so desperate to consider claiming off my government for a helping hand.
However the new 'bedroom tax' is going to cause social issues that will impact the most vulnerable - suicide rates of males with young kids are alarmingly high.
Working men who need a little extra help with the benefits system - IE £40 a week maybe, this is now being taken away. Forcing them to downsize to a property (or bedroom) that can no longer house his own kids to deliver the shared responsibility of having shared custody of the children.
Many families (lone parents and otherwise) use the lounge as a makeshift bedroom where children are not resident full time, either for the adult(s) to sleep in or the child. I don't see the issue with doing this?0 -
However the new 'bedroom tax' is going to cause social issues that will impact the most vulnerable - suicide rates of males with young kids are alarmingly high.
Working men who need a little extra help with the benefits system - IE £40 a week maybe, this is now being taken away. Forcing them to downsize to a property (or bedroom) that can no longer house his own kids to deliver the shared responsibility of having shared custody of the children.
Meanwhile, families, including single parents, including single, male parents, who have been languishing in the bottom end of the private sector, kids going without to cover the rent top-up, will be quite pleased to see another social housing family home available for their kids to occupy on a full time basis. Or do they not matter anymore?0 -
Many families (lone parents and otherwise) use the lounge as a makeshift bedroom where children are not resident full time, either for the adult(s) to sleep in or the child. I don't see the issue with doing this?
Some see this as totally unreasonable for Social Housing tenants to do. Of course, grandma (x2) could also have a 3 bed house for when the grandkiddies stay over, dad has a 3 bed house for his weekend access, mum has a 3 bed house for the kiddies to live in, so the children could easily have their own bedroom in 4 social housing units. Meanwhile, families watch as the waiting list for social housing slowly stretches out of reach, pleading for their own children to have just one, secure bedroom to call home.
How anyone can defend that is beyond me.0 -
It literally breaks my heart to see what some families put up with. Some private landlords are heartless. To sleep on the sofa a few nights a week to allow their children a bed, especially when those children are often already fed and housed by taxpayers is hardly a civil liberty.
Families who work moved every 6 months, children moving schools whilst this occurs. If they want to see their children they can its not stopping all contact.Tomorrow is the most important thing in life0 -
lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »Unless your son/daughter(s) are serving in the armed forces.
You also don't need to be a pensioner, just "not of working age".
And, of course, you will be unaffected if you pay your own rent.
For clarity, the under 35 rule doesn't apply to social housing. That's just for private rent, where single fathers claiming access to their kids have never been able to claim the going rate for 2-3 bed properties, unlike their friends in secure, affordable tenancies.
How is the Government funding the rent on their big house in any way, shape or form the same as 'fathers being more responsible for their children'?
Us? Or them?
You are referring to the LHA for a single person rate - a single person rate allowance IE £80 a week is not effected by the bedroom tax. But someone in social housing who has had their full rent paid is now being told they have to pay 14% of their rent for the extra bedroom.
Or they can move to the private sector on LHA which will not cover a 2 bedroom property.
My example of £80 a week LHA is as stated - an example, LHA can vary from one region to another.If you stay loyal all the time, you get treated like a dog.0 -
You are referring to the LHA for a single person rate - a single person rate allowance IE £80 a week is not effected by the bedroom tax. But someone in social housing who has had their full rent paid is now being told they have to pay 14% of their rent for the extra bedroom.
Or they can move to the private sector on LHA which will not cover a 2 bedroom property.
My example of £80 a week LHA is as stated - an example, LHA can vary from one region to another.
Do you have any idea what people pay in private rental? Often far more than 14%. You make it sound like their rent is covered, if so, they can move to private cant they if its peachy keen over the wall.Tomorrow is the most important thing in life0
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