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Good samaritan to pay bedroom tax bill for Merseyside mum and disabled daughter.

What a very kind person.

Anonymous donor steps in after reading Dawn Lennon's story on Echo website

A good samiritan has come forward to pay a Merseyside woman and her disabled daughter’s bedroom tax bill after being moved by the story of her plight in the ECHO.

The donor, who asked not to be named, said he would stump up the cash needed by 52-year-old Dawn Lennon and her 28-year-old daughter Kelly Marie, who has severe physical and learning difficulties.

The 42-year-old businessman, from Surrey, was so heartbroken by Mrs Lennon’s story that he contacted the ECHO to offer his help.

Mrs Lennon uses the spare room in her two-bedroom housing association flat as a sensory room for Kelly Marie, who is blind and must use a wheelchair.

But despite the room not being used as a bedroom, and being full of the specialist equipment Kelly Marie needs, the government has deemed the property as being under-occupied and so she must pay up more than £500 a year if she wants to remain in her home.

Today, Mrs Lennon, from Runcorn, told the ECHO she was overwhelmed by the anonymous donor’s generosity.

She added: “It’s going to be such a massive help and make such a big difference to me and Kelly Marie.

“Christmas was really tough and when my family were asking what presents we wanted I had to tell them just to put a little cash in an envelope so we could afford the extra little bits we need.

“This is the time now when all the bills will start coming in thick and fast, so we really appreciate that someone would do this for us.”

The good Samaritan emigrated to New Zealand in the 1970s but now lives in Weybridge, Surrey. He said he had seen the story on the ECHO website on New Year’s Day.

He added: “She has enough on her plate and is doing her best to care for a disabled daughter.

“It is people like her that made this country great and I commend her bravery and fortitude and believe by helping her a little she will be able to focus on what’s patently everything to her, Kelly Marie.

“I live in Surrey however I’m not from a privileged background.

“I'm just a 42-year-old bloke with a moral compass still intact.”

Under government rules, anyone found to be “under-occupying” a housing association property must pay extra depending on how many rooms are deemed spare.

The Department for Work and Pensions said it has made available “discretionary housing payment” funds to help people in the most difficult circumstances.

Source

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The sooner that out of touch t**t Duncan-Smith & the rest of his party are removed from office the better.

Bob.

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Too right bob...I also heard that if you have been in receipt of housing benefit since 1996 then you don't have to pay it....Just something I heard.

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So if you've been claiming it for 17 years you are exempt.

That really is quite worrying.

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Although wrt the original story...

Should we all pick one and pay It for them?

They can be like our pet benefit recipients. I'd like one with dyed red hair please.

A bit like the Dog's Trust. "Adopt a bedroom".

My head spins sometimes.

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Its not a "tax", but a reduction in benefits.

There would have been no "tax bill".

And the original story says:

Quote
Although she has been awarded a discretionary housing payment that should cover the shortfall for the start of the year, the future is uncertain.


Don't be fooled or outraged by lazy journalism.

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Yeah what Gibbo said. The sooner they stop calling this a TAX and a CHARGE and refer to it as what it is the better. Yes it is unfair in some situations and descretionary payments will help for a certain time but that is to give people longer time to move to somewhere more appropriate for their needs. I am in the masses referring to single people living in 4 bed council houses becuase they feel it's their right, not someone as in this situation.

And please don't forget Housing Benefit is not affected in this way for private tenants. Only social tenants.

When I lost my job, i received HB and was told I would get this for 16 weeks. It was great, it gave me time to get another job, or to move somewhere cheaper. It did what it was supposed to do so it works. That is what will change and cause so many more problems. I wouldn't get that same help now only a small portion of my rent would be covered, again less help for the working person!


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I also agree with Gibbo.

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This was a brilliant story on a similar vein:

Worcester mum says bedroom tax move has left her £900 out of pocket
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news..._Christmas__says_disabled_mum/?ref=var_0

A terrible story about how the evil tax has cost her Christmas and prevented her buying her son a present.

But read on and you find the woman has no idea how to manage her finances - she blew £900 on moving house, what did she use, Rolls Royces?

Staying where she was would have cost her £12 a month.

And here's the heartbreaker:

Quote
“I can’t even afford to give my son a single present,” she said.


That's awful.

Until you find out the present was a PS4.

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£12 a month!? People are moaning about £12 a month?

I obviously live on a different planet because £12 a month isn't the difference between a PS4 and no PS4!!

£12 a month is 4 pints of lager, a couple of bottles of wine, 40 ciggies; if I needed £12 a month desperately I'd turn the heating off for an hour a day and wear a jumper.

£144 a year... are people really struggling so much?

The PS4 comment has really annoyed me.

Even the fact she had £900 in savings, she shouldn't have any savings really given she's living off the state. Any money she does have should go towards that.

I really need to lay off reading these stories, especially in work where I'm snowed under so I can pay my own mortgage, bills, council tax, energy bills, pension, food, clothes, tax, national insurance etc etc.

GET IN THE REAL WORLD.

I'm starting to feel like Pete Price, and I don't mean in the sense I fancy men.

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Emeeh Just spotted this remark, i know who you really are and who you mean , a very nasty person.... making judgemental comments.

Last edited by missmahjong; 7th Jan 2014 3:22pm. Reason: added a word
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Also, a quick calculation says she receives £438 per month in benefit already. I'm assuming this is again on top of her rent/council tax etc being paid?

So assume thats spendable income?

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Originally Posted by missmahjong
Emeeh Just spotted this remark, i know who you really are and who you mean , a very nasty person.... making judgemental comments.


I make no secret that I'm talking about Lisa Taylor?


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