Families tell how benefit cuts will affect them (From The Northern Echo)

There are millions who will be affected by the new rules - all in social housing. I have one word for them. Tough. Life is hard and is going to get harder. Housing benefit costs too much and has to be cut. Private sector tenants have to pay the going rate - why should social sector tenants be insulated? Here's yet another Government plan that Labour opposes but won't change if (when?) they get into power in 2015.

Bored with this now. If I move to a plush 2 bedroomed house from my not so plush 3 bed terraced house, will my mortgage company reduce my mortgage accordingly. Will they heck. These people need to stop whinging and suck it up. They have choices, pay the extra, get a job etc but oh no they want it all with no sacrifice. Well, dont we all, its called life and its tough (at least for us working tax payers it is)

As someone who has worked all their life, never claimed benefits, I am sick and tired of hearing those on generous benefits (many of whom get far more than the average worker, all benefits included) whinging on that they are hard done to. I could whinge all day about paying high taxes, mortgage, council tax etc to support those who have a better lifestyle at my expense but until recently I didnt. These people need to take a reality check and understand that for the last 30 years everything has gone there way unquestioned, now the tables are finally turning due to the huge defecit and out of control welfare state they simply dont like it. Believe it or believe not but those not on benefits actually struggle to, to make ends meet. Benefit recipients have had it to good for to long but they dont see that, the gravy train is slowing down and they dont like whats coming. Tough!

tough, lifes a **** and then you die lol.

the grandmother in grange town is my mam and untill a few years ago worked all her life pay her taxes and brought up me and my sisters and 2 grandchildren as well.now fighting for her grandson out of care and no not my children she will help anyone if she can. It kills me to see her living of pain killers and sleeping tables because of the pain. and it wasnt until the grandkids came to live with her that she had to give up her job because she was told she would lose her grandchildren if she did not what would you do she did move to a 2 bedroom and was happy to do so untill the carers of her grandson hurt him and he was took out of there care. he was given to my mam but because of the house been to small was taken back in to care so to fight for custody she had to move again my mam has crawel up stairs at work because of the pain she is in if her bosses found her she would have been sacked for some one younger my mam is not one of thoses people like millons of other people she dose not want it be like this she not complaining she fighting to prove that this tax is not fair on everyone and not everyone the same

I like how a lot of people are assuming that the people affected by this are all people who don't work or who have never worked. This affected EVERYONE in social housing, regardless of benefits. So it affects those who pay their rent, those who work all the hours they can and still don't have enough money to pay this stupid tax.
It will hit those people claiming benefits harder, yes, but it will hit everyone. And moving into a smaller house simply isn't an option for most because there aren't enough houses.
As for those who are so happy shouting about how those of us on benefits are all scrounges, I wonder if you would feel the same if you lost your job and ended up on benefits. The system is there to help all of us, so why don't you stop complaining about how some people are scrounging and start thinking about how this would affect you if you were in that position. When the tables are turned you will soon be changing your tune.
And yes, I am one of those people on benefits. I worked for ten years and had to leave because my husband is sick. I am now self employed though not earning much, and have had to move house because of this tax. That move cost us dearly not only financially but physically and mentally for my disabled husband. We paid into the system and what do we get in return? Screwed into a position where we either don't eat or go through the hell of moving house.
We are not all scrounges, and we are all affected by this tax, whether you claim benefits or not.

If Maggie Thatcher did one thing, that SHE and her kind can be proud of, it is that she managed to make the working class of this country, as mean, spiteful, greedy and envious as herself, her class and her party.
Well done common people, you are all now Tories.

Faeriekitten wrote:
I like how a lot of people are assuming that the people affected by this are all people who don't work or who have never worked. This affected EVERYONE in social housing, regardless of benefits. So it affects those who pay their rent, those who work all the hours they can and still don't have enough money to pay this stupid tax. It will hit those people claiming benefits harder, yes, but it will hit everyone. And moving into a smaller house simply isn't an option for most because there aren't enough houses. As for those who are so happy shouting about how those of us on benefits are all scrounges, I wonder if you would feel the same if you lost your job and ended up on benefits. The system is there to help all of us, so why don't you stop complaining about how some people are scrounging and start thinking about how this would affect you if you were in that position. When the tables are turned you will soon be changing your tune. And yes, I am one of those people on benefits. I worked for ten years and had to leave because my husband is sick. I am now self employed though not earning much, and have had to move house because of this tax. That move cost us dearly not only financially but physically and mentally for my disabled husband. We paid into the system and what do we get in return? Screwed into a position where we either don't eat or go through the hell of moving house. We are not all scrounges, and we are all affected by this tax, whether you claim benefits or not.

Yes Faeriekitten, but it is only those on benefits who are whinging to the newspapers. I am sorry you have lost your job and the circumstances you now find yourself in, however had you had a mortgage you would most probably have been in a far worse position than having to 'swap' houses. Rental properties are not an entitlement for life I am afraid and that applies to everyone.

We have become a nation, well some of us at any rate....of, "my life is ****, why isn't yours"

I have a friend who is single, lives in a two bedroom rented accommodation!

He has been recently made redundant and gets just over 60 quid a week to exist.

He will now have to find 60 quid a month or find a 1 bedroom property!

Not many if any 1 bed properties about

So what do you all advocate, that he sleeps rough?

A poster above commented rightly, you're all turning into working class Tories!

Bedroom tax sounds on in principle but will hit a hell if a lot of innocent people who can't find jobs through no fault of their own!

you've all fell for the Tory Propaganda trick!

Can you do an article about how lifelong taxpayers cannot afford to sub people who have never paid a bean of tax, or contributed anything to society?

I thought not ..

Daza wrote:
I have a friend who is single, lives in a two bedroom rented accommodation!

He has been recently made redundant and gets just over 60 quid a week to exist.

He will now have to find 60 quid a month or find a 1 bedroom property!

Not many if any 1 bed properties about

So what do you all advocate, that he sleeps rough?

A poster above commented rightly, you're all turning into working class Tories!

Bedroom tax sounds on in principle but will hit a hell if a lot of innocent people who can't find jobs through no fault of their own!

you've all fell for the Tory Propaganda trick!

Has he considered finding a flatmate for example? I'm reasonably sure he'd be able to find someone to let his second bedroom from him for 60 quid a month.

It would be a sacrifice, but we all have to make sacrifices. I have to sacrifice 50% of my income in various taxes, otherwise I'll be sent to prison.

Oh, and by the way, this change isn't a "tax". Being given less money by someone isn't being taxed.

Have we as a nation become so hard hearted that we scorn those members of society who are battling ill health, disability or just being unfortunate enough to be on a low income? There are people who are working full time being hit with the Bedroom Tax who want to downsize but there are not enough properties to downsize to! Terminally ill people are having to pay! A blind friend has had to give up her place on the guide dog register as she has to downsize - no garden, no dog!
How dare you judge your fellow man! No wonder I am ashamed to be British!

spragger wrote:
Can you do an article about how lifelong taxpayers cannot afford to sub people who have never paid a bean of tax, or contributed anything to society?

I thought not ..

Tell you a better idea, why not do an article on low wages, landlords charging rent way too high and how the Right wing press, has brainwashed the unintelligent among the working classes into being as nasty, mean and selfish as themselves.

Millions who will be hit by this new rule, actually work but are on low wages and so qualify for HB.
Ever think of that? NO, just mention the word benefit, doesn't matter which benefit, and the likes of spragger immediately think scrounger doley and chav.

to the guy that suggested renting room out - if you sub-let they take that money off your housing benefit - so it wouldn't help a jot. At least attempt to do some research before you start suggesting stupid ideas.

jude666 wrote:
Bored with this now. If I move to a plush 2 bedroomed house from my not so plush 3 bed terraced house, will my mortgage company reduce my mortgage accordingly. Will they heck. These people need to stop whinging and suck it up. They have choices, pay the extra, get a job etc but oh no they want it all with no sacrifice. Well, dont we all, its called life and its tough (at least for us working tax payers it is)

Please take a look at all the facts first! I care for my son FULL TIME who is Severely Disabled has Heart, Kidney, scoliosis of his spine, Epilepsy and that is only a few problems he has,he is also terminally ill, I would love to work but can't get the help my son needs to be able to do this "unless I put him in a nursing home", we have a small SPARE!! room which has all his specialist equipment in including medical equipment, my son is 22 and my husband still carries him upstairs, people like you have no understanding the effect this will have on disabled people who didn't ask to be born this way, shame on you, you really have no idea, disabled people already have to fight for every little bit of help to be excepted in this society, so please do me a favour and take a look at the bigger picture first .

if anyone wants to do something about Bedroom Tax please join in with this!
http://www.facebook.
com/events/139565082
879137

stevegg wrote:
As someone who has worked all their life, never claimed benefits, I am sick and tired of hearing those on generous benefits (many of whom get far more than the average worker, all benefits included) whinging on that they are hard done to. I could whinge all day about paying high taxes, mortgage, council tax etc to support those who have a better lifestyle at my expense but until recently I didnt. These people need to take a reality check and understand that for the last 30 years everything has gone there way unquestioned, now the tables are finally turning due to the huge defecit and out of control welfare state they simply dont like it. Believe it or believe not but those not on benefits actually struggle to, to make ends meet. Benefit recipients have had it to good for to long but they dont see that, the gravy train is slowing down and they dont like whats coming. Tough!

After reading all the above coments you people have no idea what you are talking about, my son is 22 severely disabled, has many medical problems and lives his life like a 3 month baby (would any of you like this life), he is also terminally ill, I care for him 24hrs with very little help and support from this government, I would love to work as I then would have a much better life then I do now, but I choose to care for my son because I love him and without this love and care he would not be with me still now, please look at the bigger picture, some people are on benefits because there isn't a choice, I could give up on my son and put him in a home which would cost this government a **** site more than what they give me or I could carry on caring saving this government a fortune, so please look at the bigger picture before leaving these comments.

lynmac wrote:
Have we as a nation become so hard hearted that we scorn those members of society who are battling ill health, disability or just being unfortunate enough to be on a low income? There are people who are working full time being hit with the Bedroom Tax who want to downsize but there are not enough properties to downsize to! Terminally ill people are having to pay! A blind friend has had to give up her place on the guide dog register as she has to downsize - no garden, no dog!
How dare you judge your fellow man! No wonder I am ashamed to be British!

Lynmac well said, it saddens me to read some of these posts.

Nobody is saying that those with a genuine need should be penalised. As has already been said many times the problem us poor saps who work and pay for all these workshy dropouts have is with the bone idle, chain smoking, tracksuit wearing,spitting in the street and swearing halfwit retards who have been milking the system for too much money for too long. Im very sorry to hear that your son is not well but there are tens of thousands of people who are blessed with the best of health yet claim to be disabled and its at these people that your angst should be targeted, not the honest workers.

outragedofmiltonkeyn
es wrote:
Nobody is saying that those with a genuine need should be penalised. As has already been said many times the problem us poor saps who work and pay for all these workshy dropouts have is with the bone idle, chain smoking, tracksuit wearing,spitting in the street and swearing halfwit retards who have been milking the system for too much money for too long. Im very sorry to hear that your son is not well but there are tens of thousands of people who are blessed with the best of health yet claim to be disabled and its at these people that your angst should be targeted, not the honest workers.

Well you see Linda, Thatcher started this, and aided by the Sun, Daily Mail and Express, they have slowly but surely turned people into baying wolves, tearing at each others throats.
Of course, this is what they want, if our attention is on the sick, disabled and unemployed, then so much the better because we won't be focused on those who rerally are fleecing t5he country.

Even the terminology they use....hard working families...I know lots of working families who don't know what hard work is. yes they go to work, but hard working, no.
If the gov't was so concerned about families, they would move to make sure that employers paid decent wages that didn't need to be subsidised with tax credits and other benefits available to those on low wages.
I wonder if the likes of spragger and our other right wingers, actually know how much you save the country by caring for you son.
There are carers all over the country, many of them children themselves, saving this country a fortune by looking after afamily member, but try and get a care allowance and you may as well try to drink sand.

Anyway, best wishes lass and I hope your council accepts your plight and acts in a humane way.

Linda1970 wrote:

jude666 wrote: Bored with this now. If I move to a plush 2 bedroomed house from my not so plush 3 bed terraced house, will my mortgage company reduce my mortgage accordingly. Will they heck. These people need to stop whinging and suck it up. They have choices, pay the extra, get a job etc but oh no they want it all with no sacrifice. Well, dont we all, its called life and its tough (at least for us working tax payers it is)

Please take a look at all the facts first! I care for my son FULL TIME who is Severely Disabled has Heart, Kidney, scoliosis of his spine, Epilepsy and that is only a few problems he has,he is also terminally ill, I would love to work but can't get the help my son needs to be able to do this "unless I put him in a nursing home", we have a small SPARE!! room which has all his specialist equipment in including medical equipment, my son is 22 and my husband still carries him upstairs, people like you have no understanding the effect this will have on disabled people who didn't ask to be born this way, shame on you, you really have no idea, disabled people already have to fight for every little bit of help to be excepted in this society, so please do me a favour and take a look at the bigger picture first .

Linda1970 You also need to check your facts before you publish, you assume I have no understanding of other peoples situation. Well you are wrong. I have a brother who is severly disabled, spina bifida in fact. My parents live in a 3 bedroom council which they purchased under the right to buy scheme, they also had a lift installed as my father could no longer carry my brother upstairs. My father worked, my mother cared for my brother. Whilst I agree medical equipment takes up space it is no reason to have a spare room by right. People with disabled children who own 2 bedroom houses simply have to get on with it and work with the space they have. Same applies to all I am afraid. 3 bedroom houses need to be rented out to people who actually need to sleep in 3 bedrooms, it's as simple as that

CynicaloldGit wrote:

outragedofmiltonkeyn es wrote: Nobody is saying that those with a genuine need should be penalised. As has already been said many times the problem us poor saps who work and pay for all these workshy dropouts have is with the bone idle, chain smoking, tracksuit wearing,spitting in the street and swearing halfwit retards who have been milking the system for too much money for too long. Im very sorry to hear that your son is not well but there are tens of thousands of people who are blessed with the best of health yet claim to be disabled and its at these people that your angst should be targeted, not the honest workers.

Well you see Linda, Thatcher started this, and aided by the Sun, Daily Mail and Express, they have slowly but surely turned people into baying wolves, tearing at each others throats. Of course, this is what they want, if our attention is on the sick, disabled and unemployed, then so much the better because we won't be focused on those who rerally are fleecing t5he country. Even the terminology they use....hard working families...I know lots of working families who don't know what hard work is. yes they go to work, but hard working, no. If the gov't was so concerned about families, they would move to make sure that employers paid decent wages that didn't need to be subsidised with tax credits and other benefits available to those on low wages. I wonder if the likes of spragger and our other right wingers, actually know how much you save the country by caring for you son. There are carers all over the country, many of them children themselves, saving this country a fortune by looking after afamily member, but try and get a care allowance and you may as well try to drink sand. Anyway, best wishes lass and I hope your council accepts your plight and acts in a humane way.

I quite agreen Cyncidaloid, however carers allowance etc is another issue, not related to this forum. This is about the so called 'bedroom tax'. It is only the people whinging about it who are calling it a tax. It isn't actually a tax, you are just paying extra for another room if you actually pay rent and you are getting less BENEFIT if you dont. There are lots of things wrong with this country and people living in overcrowded houses while those who dont fully occupy theirs is one of the things which is wrong. That is now being addressed and quite rightly so.

CynicaloldGit wrote:
If Maggie Thatcher did one thing, that SHE and her kind can be proud of, it is that she managed to make the working class of this country, as mean, spiteful, greedy and envious as herself, her class and her party.
Well done common people, you are all now Tories.

As someone who is a "working man" myself, i.e. who does skilled manual work we were much better off when Mrs T had her hand on the tiller. It was a time when working class people could start to earn good money (joked about by Harry Enfield "Loadsamoney"), class barriers were eroded and work (for the non workshy) was plentiful.

New Labour had an ill-timed love affair with the bankers, and neglected the working man they claimed to represent. In fact I haven't seem my wages rise in fifteen years ago. They couldn't even get the economy right.

Still, Cycnicaloldgit- believe what you want to believe eh?

tbh i hate work and would rather not do it and live in a 2/3 bedroomed house scott free! where do i sign? or opt out of contributing to these parasites. id be quite well off if i didn't pay tax!

Then Jude 6666, I'm afraid, that your parents, have contibuted to this situation. All be it, led along by the likes of Mrs T, who allowed your parents to buy their home, and you will notice I said home, not house, as the house actually belonged to the tax payer, but did not allow councils to rteplace the housing stock sold.

She wasn't wanting to give your parents their own home, what she wanted was that the maintainence of the home was then transfered to your parents instead of the council who then could lay off mainatinence crews.....saving the rate payers and centreal gov't money...............
..Oh how everyone was taken in.
Now it has come back to haunt us. Housing shortage, unafordable homes for the young people, bedroom tax and people sleeping on the streets more than ever before........and private landlords raking it in. Aye, good old Mrs T. And you all fell for it, along with the shares you got for the water comapnies, electricity companies, gas etc etc.................
and how much are your bills now, just remind me?

CynicaloldGit wrote:
If Maggie Thatcher did one thing, that SHE and her kind can be proud of, it is that she managed to make the working class of this country, as mean, spiteful, greedy and envious as herself, her class and her party. Well done common people, you are all now Tories.

Completely agree, this country is now a mean spirited country where the message seems to be "My lifes ****, why isn't yours?". The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists" should be required reading at school. The general tone of these comments and insults from working people to one another is truly depressing but good news for people like Ian Duncan Smith, who actually should have been sectioned after his leaders speech at the Tory conference some years ago.

CynicaloldGit wrote:

spragger wrote:
Can you do an article about how lifelong taxpayers cannot afford to sub people who have never paid a bean of tax, or contributed anything to society?

I thought not ..

Tell you a better idea, why not do an article on low wages, landlords charging rent way too high and how the Right wing press, has brainwashed the unintelligent among the working classes into being as nasty, mean and selfish as themselves.

Millions who will be hit by this new rule, actually work but are on low wages and so qualify for HB.
Ever think of that? NO, just mention the word benefit, doesn't matter which benefit, and the likes of spragger immediately think scrounger doley and chav.

You clearly think about scrounger, doley & chav. as you mentioned it & no one else did.

If the taxes went anywhere near the people you identify they and the few real taxpayers would be happier.
They are ropped blind by the many spongers the one who go on benefits rather than their families look after them.

Of all the people I know on lifelong benefits, to a person they have CHOSEN it as a lifestyle, or are downright con merchants.
- Most people will see the same ..

i lost my job for 5 years a while a ago i had to sell everything i had to survive, she should start with them rings

CynicaloldGit wrote:
Then Jude 6666, I'm afraid, that your parents, have contibuted to this situation. All be it, led along by the likes of Mrs T, who allowed your parents to buy their home, and you will notice I said home, not house, as the house actually belonged to the tax payer, but did not allow councils to rteplace the housing stock sold. She wasn't wanting to give your parents their own home, what she wanted was that the maintainence of the home was then transfered to your parents instead of the council who then could lay off mainatinence crews.....saving the rate payers and centreal gov't money............... ..Oh how everyone was taken in. Now it has come back to haunt us. Housing shortage, unafordable homes for the young people, bedroom tax and people sleeping on the streets more than ever before........and private landlords raking it in. Aye, good old Mrs T. And you all fell for it, along with the shares you got for the water comapnies, electricity companies, gas etc etc................. and how much are your bills now, just remind me?

Wow Cyncaloid, how much subscription do you pay to the labour party, or do you spout their propaganda for free. Whilst Maggie brought in the right to buy scheme it certainly wasn't brought to a halt by the shower of a Labour government that followed her, they still rubbed their chubby hands in glee when they took the money off people, or has that little point been forgotten by the red brigade, The situation the country now finds itself in has absolutely nothing to do with Margaret Thatcher, for heavens sake that was a lifetime ago. It does however have everything to do with Blair and Brown and the useless Unions that voted them in. You need a history lesson, it was the last government that almost brought this country to its knees and now everyone is complaining because we need to sort out the mess.

Jude, you seem to think that Labour under Blair was socialist, they were simply pink Tories.

And yes, Maggie was a lifetime ago for some, half a lifetime for me, BUT she started the me first, greed is good, attitude that has prevailed on this thread and others as soon as benefits are mentioned.

Oh, and if you think I support Labour, you must not have been on this website for long.....I hate all politicians.
However, I take no delight in seeing my fellow man hounded and abused by those politicians such as Idiot Duncan Smith and Ms McVey.

David Lacey wrote:
There are millions who will be affected by the new rules - all in social housing. I have one word for them. Tough. Life is hard and is going to get harder. Housing benefit costs too much and has to be cut. Private sector tenants have to pay the going rate - why should social sector tenants be insulated? Here's yet another Government plan that Labour opposes but won't change if (when?) they get into power in 2015.

Slow down mate....private sector tenants get higher housing benefit payments than those in social housing. Time to cap the payments to those private landlords as well.

Terrible comments from 'i'm alright jack' gang

IThere are no 1 bed properties available coast and country housing association have 2 with 100's affected by this cut.

Why do we want to punish poor people while the millionaires get their tax cuts?.

Do not assume that the people affected have been on benefits all the time-it can happen to any of us.How would you want to be treated?

ive worked all my life, was in ill health but no work no money, i have every sympathy from the genuine out there, but there are a lot of scroungers that dont want work , they should be made to work for the money they claim. heard i guy on the phone in job centre say my wages havent come this week ..he was refering to his dole money, how is dole money wages you havent worked for?

maur1 wrote:
ive worked all my life, was in ill health but no work no money, i have every sympathy from the genuine out there, but there are a lot of scroungers that dont want work , they should be made to work for the money they claim. heard i guy on the phone in job centre say my wages havent come this week ..he was refering to his dole money, how is dole money wages you havent worked for?

Yer yer yer and I bet you even know someone with a blue badge who can do the 100 quicker the Bolt.

CynicaloldGit ive been a worker all my life never had benefits' i just see the scroungers that never worked is that you?

They could always stop smoking and knock the Lambrini and Frosty Jacks on the head.

stupid comment from someone who has lost the argument.

maur1 wrote:
CynicaloldGit ive been a worker all my life never had benefits' i just see the scroungers that never worked is that you?

No, when I left school, everyone got a job. I'm actucally a pensioner now and this issue does not affect me, not in social housing, and born before October 51.
I just care about others less fortunate than myself.
BTW, did your wife claim child benefit/family allowance...if she did, you claimed benefits.

It always amazes me, people like Maur1, they see a comment where people defend what they see as wrong and immediately think that you must be a "scrounger" yourself.
They always seem to judge people by their own shortcomings or their own selfish attitudes......."oh he's sticking up for them, he must be on benefits himself"
They cannot understand that some of us, no matter what our social standing is, can have empathy for others. That is what I have always understood the right wing to be lacking, EMPATHY.
Wasn't evil defined at Nuremburg as "having a lack of empathy"

CynicaloldGit wrote:
It always amazes me, people like Maur1, they see a comment where people defend what they see as wrong and immediately think that you must be a "scrounger" yourself. They always seem to judge people by their own shortcomings or their own selfish attitudes......."oh he's sticking up for them, he must be on benefits himself" They cannot understand that some of us, no matter what our social standing is, can have empathy for others. That is what I have always understood the right wing to be lacking, EMPATHY. Wasn't evil defined at Nuremburg as "having a lack of empathy"

He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face

Quote by Benjamin Franklin,

Faeriekitten wrote:
I like how a lot of people are assuming that the people affected by this are all people who don't work or who have never worked. This affected EVERYONE in social housing, regardless of benefits. So it affects those who pay their rent, those who work all the hours they can and still don't have enough money to pay this stupid tax.
It will hit those people claiming benefits harder, yes, but it will hit everyone. And moving into a smaller house simply isn't an option for most because there aren't enough houses.
As for those who are so happy shouting about how those of us on benefits are all scrounges, I wonder if you would feel the same if you lost your job and ended up on benefits. The system is there to help all of us, so why don't you stop complaining about how some people are scrounging and start thinking about how this would affect you if you were in that position. When the tables are turned you will soon be changing your tune.
And yes, I am one of those people on benefits. I worked for ten years and had to leave because my husband is sick. I am now self employed though not earning much, and have had to move house because of this tax. That move cost us dearly not only financially but physically and mentally for my disabled husband. We paid into the system and what do we get in return? Screwed into a position where we either don't eat or go through the hell of moving house.
We are not all scrounges, and we are all affected by this tax, whether you claim benefits or not.

As far as I'm aware it only affects those in social housing on benefits, not those that aren't, because they are collecting the tax through reducing benefits?

I've said it before but the worst problem we're going to face in the future is that families who might have say a 3 bedroomed house, the kids grow up and leave, and the parents are left on their own - they will be taxed on two spare bedrooms and will have to downsize - now that I can accept as fair, HOWEVER, there are very few 1 bedroom houses for couples to downsize to, which means if they move to a two bedroom house they will still be penalised for an extra bedroom even though they've committed to downsizing to ease the housing problem!

Now this in no way just cannot be fair, whether the tenants are benefits claimers or not.

I feel that if the government allowed one "spare" bedroom untaxed, that the proposed system would be fairer.

i was born in 52, should of been able to retire last year the age was put up, should of qualified for a bus pass last year the age went up, didnt qualify the heating allowence age went up. the only claim i have ever in my life made yes was for family allowance which was a small amount of money paid when you had your second child. i only had 2 children would of loved more simply could not afford them . i have never in my life claimed any form of benefits including housing benefits, i have always paid tax and n.ins contributons. i had to give up a careworkers job through a back injury but i straight away found another job less hours and minimum pay, i dont agree people not working being better off than me, but i also agree the lady disabled son should not loose out or genuine cases .

The whole benefits system does need to be looked at & changed, but it has to be fair. The Coalition government have taken a sledgehammer approach to welfare reform, of course there has to be reform & change as the amount of money paid out is unsustainable.
Reducing people's housing benefits needs to be looked at on a case by case system & if people are disabled or long term sick or terminally ill then they should be left alone.
We all need to look at the bigger picture & ask why is so much money paid out in all types of benefits including working tax credits etc. The reason is because many jobs are poorly paid & many employers have to answer to the dreaded share holders who demand a high return on their investment.
Realistically, if the govt stopped all family allowance & tax credits etc then the real minimum wage would need to be about £15 p/hour & that would scare the hell out of the govt & a lot of greedy little "Eric Pollard" type firms.
I do blame this govt & the last one before that & Thatcher for all being very short sighted & selling "the working class" down the river. The decline probably started in the 70's helped by greedy unions, lazy workforce & inept governments.
There has been an over reliance on the service industry & on the financial industry in the UK & all previous governments have had little interest in backing UK manufacturing which = jobs. Even the American financial guru, Jim Jefferies remarked last year, " The UK has nothing left to sell or export."
This is the reason why govt. finances are in such a poor state & Mr Osborne doesn't have a clue how to turn things around. The easy target is the poor, the sick, the disabled & people on welfare.
When times were good a few years ago the rest of us in the UK, couldn't care less about people on benefits. We were all too busy getting new cars on finance, buying new houses, getting home owner loans & getting more credit to pay for nice holidays & big splurges at The Metro, fuelled by cheap money & easy credit all because we worked hard & we deserved it.
Now the party is over, the whole country is feeling the financial hangover no matter if you took part or were just an observer & everyone is at each other's throat. My rant is over now, & the govt should reform welfare but in a fair way & at the same time go after these big companies who avoid paying their fare share of tax & stick two fingers up at HMRC.

CynicaloldGit wrote:

spragger wrote:
Can you do an article about how lifelong taxpayers cannot afford to sub people who have never paid a bean of tax, or contributed anything to society?

I thought not ..

Tell you a better idea, why not do an article on low wages, landlords charging rent way too high and how the Right wing press, has brainwashed the unintelligent among the working classes into being as nasty, mean and selfish as themselves.

Millions who will be hit by this new rule, actually work but are on low wages and so qualify for HB.
Ever think of that? NO, just mention the word benefit, doesn't matter which benefit, and the likes of spragger immediately think scrounger doley and chav.

Well said!

jude666 wrote:

CynicaloldGit wrote:
It always amazes me, people like Maur1, they see a comment where people defend what they see as wrong and immediately think that you must be a "scrounger" yourself. They always seem to judge people by their own shortcomings or their own selfish attitudes......."oh he's sticking up for them, he must be on benefits himself" They cannot understand that some of us, no matter what our social standing is, can have empathy for others. That is what I have always understood the right wing to be lacking, EMPATHY. Wasn't evil defined at Nuremburg as "having a lack of empathy"

He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face

Quote by Benjamin Franklin,

"When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty."
-Thomas Jefferson