MSE News: Struggling with benefit changes? Contact your council - £20m unclaimed last

jlawrence

missapril75 wrote: »

Seriously? Take every penny from a 75 year old parent leaving them nothing for themselves?

Hi April, maybe looking at the household income is much fairer than looking at each individual that is if they all live together. Here I understand that if a young single mum lives with her mum and dad, mum and dad would get their entitlement, and the daughter would get hers, yet there is still only a single pot that pays for one lot of electricity, one lot of gas, one lot of water etc etc.

missapril75

jlawrence wrote: »

... Here I understand that if a young single mum lives with her mum and dad, mum and dad would get their entitlement, and the daughter would get hers, yet there is still only a single pot that pays for one lot of electricity, one lot of gas, one lot of water etc etc.

There's a huge difference between a contribution from the other person and deducting every penny of the other person's income - effectively taking it off them.

jlawrence

missapril75 wrote: »

There's a huge difference between a contribution from the other person and deducting every penny of the other person's income - effectively taking it off them.

Thanks April, but surely assessing the overall needs for the household is a lot fairer than it is to assess each individual? If say the overall household needs say £200 a week to support a basic standard of living for everyone, that is food, fuel, housing etc, why is it right that each person has their own entitlement which in my example could well see payments totalling £400 a week being paid out? They only need £200 otherwise some are making a profit out of the system.

lighting_up_the_chalice

jlawrence wrote: »

Thanks April, but surely assessing the overall needs for the household is a lot fairer than it is to assess each individual? If say the overall household needs say £200 a week to support a basic standard of living for everyone, that is food, fuel, housing etc, why is it right that each person has their own entitlement which in my example could well see payments totalling £400 a week being paid out? They only need £200 otherwise some are making a profit out of the system.

Do you not think we have a big enough housing crisis already without creating a financial incentive for people to move out? You may see this as "profiting" from the system, but it's far cheaper for the system than paying two lots of housing costs as well.

MissMoneypenny

brightonman123 wrote: »

local council guy suggested I apply for DHP, even though turned down last year- seems a single person, reasonably healthy, with no dependents, are not worthy of help with dreaded bedroom tax!

That's because you can work to pay your own low social housing rent.

If you don't like the reductions in your housing benefit because you have more bedrooms than you need, then you will need to work to pay for those extra bedrooms.

Just be grateful that you aren't in private renting, where often the bedroom allocation rate, doesn't cover the rent.

MissMoneypenny

Confuseddot wrote: »

Given that DHP is temporary payment should it not then be given to people who are in temporary in need ... ie the 20 year old in the 1 bed.

This is a very good point.

Athough I would query why a 20 year old was allowed HB, unless the family refused to house them?

Although that would raise the question of why their family didn't want to be near them and whether the welfare state should pay for anti social people; or those young adults who wanted to live an independant life at the expense of the taxpayers. It should be a job first and then the independant life.

MissMoneypenny

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

Do you not think we have a big enough housing crisis already without creating a financial incentive for people to move out? You may see this as "profiting" from the system, but it's far cheaper for the system than paying two lots of housing costs as well.

Housing benefit is the most expensive income based benefit the UK has. The second is Tax Credits.

We need to be looking at that and maybe, base these benefits on contributions. That would stop the "move".

jlawrence

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Housing benefit is the most expensive income based benefit the UK has. The second is Tax Credits.

We need to be looking at that and maybe, base these benefits on contributions. That would stop the "move".

Thanks Money, absolutely!! There should be a two tier system - just enough paid to those to survive on for those that haven't contributed and a far better level of support to recognise payments made into the system. Personally I would scrap all HB for the under 25's unless there are exceptional reasons. No doubt everyone would be claiming that their case is exceptional!!

lighting_up_the_chalice

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Housing benefit is the most expensive income based benefit the UK has. The second is Tax Credits.

We need to be looking at that and maybe, base these benefits on contributions. That would stop the "move".

No it wouldn't. Little Johny (or Jenny) would just get mum to kick him/her out.

jlawrence

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

No it wouldn't. Little Johny (or Jenny) would just get mum to kick him/her out.

Hi Lighting, but isn't that just playing the system of the benefit game? That some on here says that it never happens!