Bedroom Tax Anomalies Start To Kick In

[chrisgel]

I think everyone new there would be cases similar to this where it seems that the whole idea hasn't been thought through properly.
I have sympathy for this woman. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/bedroom-tax-shame-devoted-mum-3316274

[anneasquith]

very helpful replies, jim.

[cazzz1975]

its ill thought out because 80% of people affected are the vulnerable disabled, I have no issue with encouraging non disabled people living in houses too large for their needs to downsize, however the majority affected (the disabled) have spent years having their properties modified to suit their needs, by forcing them to downsize, the council is likely to be lumped with another bill for modifying a smaller property.

[jim360]

Yes, ymb -- but the Welfare State tends to have to adapt itself to meet the "extreme cases", and the series of changes now being brought in has lurched away from that to a one-size-fits-all stance. This has the disadvantage that the system will be challenged in courts of law -- and most likely will lose several such cases, with the result that it has to change back again to fit the "extreme cases". That series of legal challenges is likely to cost the government time and money that it needn't have spent.

Grant Shapps on the Today Programme was talking about how it had taken three years from election to bringing this system in, as if that were a long time. It is not. It is far too short, and the consequences could well be either a lot of people left by the wayside that the State ought to have been providing for, or several embarrassing cases that the Government loses, forcing it to change the rules away from where they are planned to be.

[Sharingan]

Thank you Jim, that was what worried me if she got tipped over some sort of threshold. Thanks for asking and thank your friend for their help too.

[ToraToraTora]

It's not a tax.

[yansee]

Typical of this coalition,no thought how they affect struggling families,the Tories are heartless propped up by their LibDem lapdogs.

[chrisgel]

Just to follow up on this story with a little news. It seems that a local charity has decided to help this woman out. A little bit of good news for a change.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/bedroom-tax-mum-elizabeth-barry-3409438

[jim360]

Thanks for the update. In a way I think this sort of reaction is precisely what the Government is hoping for -- easing back the burden of Welfare on the State and hoping Charities, philanthropists and so on fill the gap.

[chrisgel]

Precisely Jim. I dare say the lady won't care in the least where the help is coming from but it certainly leaves a nasty taste in my mouth that it has come to this.

[friedgreentomato]

desktop apart from a pregnacy grant which she may or may not be entitled to she will not get any extra money just for being preggars!

Perhaps her family is helping out.

[factor-fiction]

I'd forget about her, desktop. She may think the same thing about you- ebay deliveries, taxi etc. You have enough issues of your own. If you get the job the issue of the reduction in the spare room subsidy may go away for you. Good luck

[boxtops]

desky, I don't think you can comment about someone else - you have no idea what sort of debt she might be getting into to pay for all that stuff. You and Mr D have been there, you know better now, well done that you are starting to settle some of your debts.

[jackthehat]

Desktop - You really have no idea exactly what she gets her money for, or why.
Your speculation isn't helping you any and seems to increase your anxieties about your own situation.

You can only sort your own financies out, so best just to concentrate on those.

[friedgreentomato]

Desky there are so many scenarios as to why she has got so much - the father could be supporting her - you really don't know - so mind your own council and get your own issues sorted.

[factor-fiction]

Sorry, I couldn't follow that desktop. I'll read it again later. My point was that you do have ebay deliveries which your neighbour may see and mrdesktop drives a taxi which your neighbour may see at your house- so it's dangerous to draw conclusions from what we see.

You don't like us suggesting your ebay expenditure seems excessive so maybe it's unfair for you to make comments about your neighbour.