"People may go hungry due to 'bedroom tax' "

[dutchman]

Cash-strapped people in the district set to be hit by the so-called bedroom tax are planning to cut back on food to try and make ends meet.

The shocking revelation comes ahead of the hugely controversial move being introduced on Monday (April 1). It will see social housing tenants' benefits slashed if they are considered to live in a home with more bedrooms than they and their family need. Those with one spare bedroom will lose around £650 per year, while it will cost those with two spare bedrooms around £1,150.

Warwick District Council's latest estimate is that 650 households in social housing across the district are affected - 525 tenants under-occupying by one bedroom and 125 under-occupying by two or more - amounting to a total loss in benefits of £575,000 a year.

And Leamington's Citizens Advice Bureau chief Hilary Holland, whose bureau is currently experiencing in a rise in people seeking advice, told the paper this week: “The response to council's survey was that the majority of affected people have said they'll cut back on buying food, which is shocking.

“A particular worry is there's still a fair bit of head burying in sand going on.

“Those that understand the effects still live in hope of something turning up, or being able to cope without any idea where the extra money will come from. We know from clients’ income and expenditure sheets that an extra £14 per week lost will send household finances seriously out of balance.

“And the council have also made the point themselves about there being too few smaller properties even if people did want to move.”

There are currently 3,200 people on the district council's housing waiting list.

Back in January warning were first given in the Observer over the “horrendous” benefit reforms on the way.

And fears were raised earlier this month by the council's Labour group that council tenants could be evicted from their homes due to the officially-named 'Spare Room Deduction'.

At a meeting as we went to press last night (Wednesday), Labour councillors on the district council sought cross-party agreement to call on the government to abolish the 'tax'.

On Saturday (March 23) more than 100 householders attended an information event at Leamington Town Hall, organised in partnership with registered social landlords, for tenants whose properties were too big or small for their needs and were interested in moving.

Pensioners, plus the disabled, foster carers, armed forces members, are exempt from the benefit changes.

Conservative MP for Warwick and Leamington, Chris White, has insisted the cost of benefits had risen to “unsustainable levels” in recent years which unfortunately meant tough choices had to be taken.

He added: “I agree that we need to reform our welfare system so that it is fair but these reforms must also protect the most vulnerable in our society.”

Visit http://www.warwickdc.gov.uk for a full run down of the criteria involved.

Visit http://www.cableamington.org.uk or call 0844 855 2322 for help from the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

[rebbonk]

It's all very well introducing this "tax", but where are the properties for those affected to downsize into? This whole thing hasn't been thought through properly, like most things that Irritating Duncan Smith is involved with.

[rebbonk]

I stumbled on this....

People are getting rather upset about this "tax"

[rebbonk]

Government lose Bedroom tax challenge decision....



source : http://www.leighday.co.uk/News/2013/Mar ... e-decision

[dutchman]

I doubt very much the legal challenge will succeed or that the results of the local elections will influence the government's policy in this matter.

Nor has Labour promised to repeal the tax if they win the next general election (as looks increasingly likely).

It's possible they will, but if they were to announce it in advance the Tories would accuse them of being financialy irresponsible. My guess is they will only repeal it for a very small number of severely disabled tenants.

Of course none of these Tory cutbaxks would be nearly so damaging if it wasn't for Labour's own cuts in age-related benefits announced back in 2008 but only now coming into effect for many people.