Who Is Worse Off?

[New Judge]

Three single mothers (and one of each of their children) have lost a legal challenge to the government’s benefit cap. This caps the total benefits they can receive at £500 per week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24818747

Lawyers acting for the group argued that the "cruel and arbitrary" measure was "reminiscent of the days of the workhouse". They also argued (surprise, surprise) that the cap unlawfully breached the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for home and family life. The women themselves feared it would leave them destitute.

Where, then, does this leave State pensioners? I’m sure some of them would not mind being so destitute. Their plight is a little more pronounced as the cruel and arbitrary level of their payments is capped at £145 (for the poorest who receive full Pension Credit). Of course they receive Housing Benefit as well (example rates are £120pw in leafy Maidstone up to £250pw in Mayfair). This still leaves them considerably worse off. A pensioner living in Maidstone receives a little over half the workhouse levels that the single mothers are complaining of. Perhaps they’d like to swap places.

[baza]

I think I must have missed the queue of legal aid lawyers wanting to take up my case for a £500 pension and flying lessons.There are ways to earn a little bit extra to off set the reduction in handouts.

[craft1948]

My 31 year old nephew told me it was people like me (pensioners) who were bleeding the country dry, and there would be nothing left for him when he came to retire................I've now stopped his pocket money.

[emmie]

who?

[ummmm]

Antipathy towards old people????

You speak for the whole country, Em?

[emmie]

when you read some questions, posts, on this site, some seems anti elderly, comments like they should downsize if in a bigger property, even if it's their own, being in hospital, taking up space, or they should make way for young people, and it's not pleasant. As to the women featured in the post, three single mums, what about the dads, don't they help, contribute.

[ummmm]

You must be reading a different site to me...

Of course old people should downsize....as should middle aged people or anyone that doesn't need the rooms they have. If someone wants to stay in their home until they die then they should have bought it.

[emmie]

perhaps you didn't read my post, i said if they own it, and if they live in social housing then i suppose you are happy they move out, if so to where?

[emmie]

life isn't all about need, and having your own home is a boon, which many couldn't do once upon a time.

[ummmm]

They are not expected to move out if they own the house. It is not someones God given right to be given a house for life.

[emmie]

i never said it was, however those people may have paid more into the pot than those coming after, moving in to those properties. They may have paid nowt into it, and that is the problem these days with social housing.

[emmie]

and whilst those elderly are moved out, where to, it still costs the local authority in the long run, either in sheltered housing, or a care home if they don't have a lot of pension.

[pixie373]

The elderly could simply be offered smaller houses, that leaves the 3/4 bedrooms for those with families. As i have said before, quite a few of our clients are in large "social" houses, where they only use one bedroom, and in two cases, haven't actually been upstairs in 20 plus years. That doesn't help anyone. It would probably be cheaper and better all round, if they were given some help to move to a smaller place, once they no longer need a family home.
and emmie, i agree with you about absent and irresponsible fathers. Unfortunately, it's the mothers that pick up the pieces. And get the blame for being spongers.

[emmie]

pixie, sorry the state picks up the tab for the single mums, and the absent dads, because unless she works and puts the child, children into a nursery, or pay for expensive day care, then she would have no choice but to live off the state. Their idea of being destitute is somewhat wide of the mark.
But absentee fathers should be made to pay, it is wrong for them to sire these children and get off scot free. I know a guy who has never paid a penny towards his many children, even though he has earned a good crust from his work.

[emmie]

there is a shortage of affordable homes, and single occupancy as much as any.

[ummmm]

Not all single parents rely on the state. Don't tar them all with the same brush...

[sherrardk]

Doesn't help in the here and now, but aren't new social housing tenants only guaranteed their house for five years now? So if their family gets smaller in that time the expectation would be that they move somewhere smaller. I think that it is fair. If they don't like it, they will have to rent in the private sector.