Should they be allowed in the bedroom?

[anotheoldgit]

The latest measure in the war to combat benefit cheats.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-104407 3/Town-hall-snoopers-want-bedroom-access-check -tax-discount-pensioners-living-own.html

Agree or not?

[tonyav]

yes i agree with that .

[Ice.Maiden]

No. Not because I agree with cheating the system, but because it could become the start of something very unpleasant. I always thought that "an Englishman's home was his castle" - and snooping around someone's bedroom sounds highly questionable - not to mention unreliable - to me.

[anotheoldgit]

Any difference to them snooping to see if you have a TV?

[cazzz1975]

I agree with ICE, in any case a lot of pensioners are very badly off as it is

[Ice.Maiden]

Once all this starts, they'll be coming in to make sure everyone's using a condom next!

[sandbach99]

Can soneone explain what looking in a bedroom will prove.

A pensioner still has a double bed, probably had one for the last 50 years, can't afford a new single bed, does that prove they are cheating.

There is a bed in the spare room in case an adult child visits or grandchildren stop the weekend, are they cheating?

They still have clothes belonging to a deceased partner in the wardrobe, some can't bear to get rid of everything, do they now have to to claim the rebate?

The only way co-habitation can be proved is by someone watching from a car etc and seeing someone there in an evening and still be there in the morning, ie, observing overnight.

[obNOXious]

Terrible.
Everything sanbach said is 100% right.

[terambulan]

Can't see that finding someone else in the bedroom makes a difference as it could be a visitor (or arn't lone occupants allowed visitors to stay)?

[kitiekebab]

anotheoldgit you do not have to let the tv man in you house

[kitiekebab]

One form, produced by Thurrock Council in Essex, reads: 'To be completed and returned immediately if you wish to continue to claim single person discount...

'I authorise the Council or its agents to make enquiries to corroborate this claim. I will permit the Council or its agents to inspect the property on request...

'If you do not do so, we will have to cancel your discount and send you a revised bill for the increased amount.'

[Jafi]

I think it's a huge infringement on peoples privacy. Surely your bedroom is the one place that should remain private.

I agree with sanbach, what is it going to prove? Will they be happy just to have a look into your bedroom, or are they going to snoop through your drawers and cupboards?

I'm all for trying to stop benefit cheats, as i think most people are but this is just taking things too far.

[littleoldme]

As much as I despise benefits cheats, this is a step too far. There are plenty of ways of carrying out surveillance outside the property if the council suspects any wrongdoing, without going through people's smalls.

Of course the dear old DM ups the emotive ante by concentrating on pensioners, but the same goes for anyone who lives alone.

[Oneeyedvic]

Which would we prefer to catch benefit cheats:

1) A council employee coming round to 'inspect' the house and interview the person living there - cost will be pretty small.

2) A couple of people with some surveillance equipment stalking that same person outside for a few days to try and establish whether or not there are more than one people living there - it would obviously have to be a few days to make sure that they are living there and not just stopping over for one night, and of course you would have to pay for overtime for the council employees, who would probably have to stay on until around midnight for the surveillance days.

Not sure that I agree with it, but from a purely costing point of view, there is no arguing with it.

[ludwig]

Sorry to go off topic slightly, but can someone explain to me why you get a 25% discount for living alone? Surely you should get that for co-habiting - that's how you achieve economies of scale, e.g only one set of bins to collect, less resources being used etc.