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More than 30 tenant, trade union and campaign groups are linking up to build a national umbrella campaign to fight cuts to housing benefit.


Initial plans from The Campaign for Benefit Justice, which will also oppose ‘attacks’ on other benefits, include protests later this month aimed at Lord Freud, the welfare minister, and Iain Duncan Smith, secretary of state for work and pensions. Next month, the campaign will stage a protest on Budget day and a summit in London.

The action comes ahead of the introduction of the ‘bedroom tax’ in April. This will cut housing benefit payments for working age social tenants who are deemed to be under-occupying their home.

The 31 groups backing the campaign include Defend Council Housing and Disabled People Against Cuts campaigns and the trade unions Unite and the Public and Commercial Services Union.

Representatives from the groups, including a 7,500-strong Facebook group dedicated to fighting the bedroom tax, met for a launch meeting in London last month

A statement from the campaign said: ‘Cuts in benefits are an unjust attack on the poor. Cuts concentrated on housing benefit are already breaking up families, communities and support networks. They will mean poverty, debt and evictions.

‘We oppose all cuts in benefits and tax credits. We did not cause the banking and economic crisis and will not be scapegoated to pay for it.
http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tena...ght-housing-benefit-cuts/6525584.article

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...lowances-bus-passes-and-TV-licences.html

Winter fuel allowances, free bus passes and TV licences for the elderly could be cut after Downing Street warned the public to prepare for "difficult decisions”.

http://www.politicus.org.uk/news/pe...protect-them-only-applies-until-2015_644

GREAT I JUST QUALIFY AND THEY ARE TAKING AWAY!!

Typical eh, miss!

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/984

Time to get scribbling to M.Ps again to ask where there names are.

this is why its important to all stick together, just because it may not affect some people now doesnt mean it wont affect you in the future

That's a good point.

i have started writing to all labour mps who have not signed the early day motion 984
copy of standard letter that i am sending to them.
Anyone who wants to use any part of my letter as a template copy feel free to.

Dear
I am shocked & dismayed to see that your name has not been added to the early day motion 984 re under-occupancy penalty & the vulnerable.
I am under the assumption that the labour party totally opposes this draconian bedroom tax.
I am stunned that only 10 labour MPs have added their signature to this motion,
How do you expect the poorer of society to vote for you if you are not prepared to help us.
Do you think it is okay for Lord Freud & his wife to have 11 spare bedrooms, while social housing tenants in receipt of housing benefit are to be penalised for having a spare bedroom, and then have to make a choice do they feed & clothe their children, do they have their gas/ electric supply disconnected, or do they pay the bedroom tax or not.
We do not have much choice do we, no matter which option we choice, we will suffer the consequences.
Please do the right thing and add your name to this motion.
And once again show the labour voters, that the labour party are the party that supports the poor & vulnerable of society.
Regards

Don't worry; won't happen. There are too many pensioners and guess who's most likely to vote.

great letter rottylady, straight to the point

Do you think it is okay for Lord Freud & his wife to have 11 spare bedrooms, while social housing tenants in receipt of housing benefit are to be penalised for having a spare bedroom, and then have to make a choice do they feed & clothe their children, do they have their gas/ electric supply disconnected, or do they pay the bedroom tax or not.

Good point there,but in most cases is there still kids at home?what if the kids have flown the nest and its only a married couple in there middle ages or older. wouldn t it be better to do a swap.A young family can have bedrooms for there kids rather than 2 or more siblings in one room?

From April 2013 all current and future working age tenants renting from a local authority, housing association or other registered social landlord will receive Housing Benefit based on the need of their household.
The size criteria allows one bedroom for each person or couple living as part of the household :
• Children under 16 of the same gender are expected to share
• Children under 10 are expected to share regardless of gender
• A disabled tenant or partner who needs a non-resident overnight carer will be allowed an extra room
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/size-criteria-social-rented/


I quote from you
“”A young family can have bedrooms for there kids rather than 2 or more siblings in one room””

It would depend on the ages & gender of the siblings
Bedroom tax affects families with children also
siblings will be forced to share rooms smaller than a politicians closet.