Forums Forums National News Its official...DWP admit 1996 bedroom tax error

Spare Room Subsidy
So what if it is not a tax. it is forcing people out of homes they have brought families up in and don't want to leave
Many have been evicted over this and it is not right
In essence the gov have taken what they say is rightfully theirs, just like a tax
Anyway Stop slitting hairs please

When you say many have been evicted, have these people been evicted for just not paying the under occupancy charge or did they already have rent arrears ?

I've be surprised if a court would evict someone for just the under occupancy charge the arrears wouldn't be high enough to warrant an eviction

People have also commited suicide over this too....as for the people that lost there homes, will there be compensation..

I understand that some people who have been evicted will be seeking compensation.

There have been evictions for BT arrears alone. Landlords are using Ground 8 and Ground 10. Some landlords have been putting 'the frighteners' on tenants for less than the equivalent of 8 weeks full rent.

At the 25% rate (two bedrooms) a tenant would be clocking up one full week of rent arrears per calender month, so it would only take (I say only) 8 months of non-payment to reach the threshold of 8 weeks of non-payment. As, already stated, some Landlords are trying it on earlier than that.

Of course, those with existing arrears or those who already have a Notice of Seeking Possession are already in a vulnerable posistion... Hope that makes sense.

A punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.

I wouldn't call it a penalty.

The homes aren't theirs though...

Bandycoot is correct, this is like a broken record now.

People are complaining that they're getting less than before for nothing. No sense is being made.

I wonder if anyone here who is campaigning about 'bedroom tax' isn't actually liable?

Ie are the only people who think its unfair those that are being affected?

The whole point is, who is footing the bill for non-payers or late payers? Not the government but we taxpayers.

If you cannot afford to buy a house and rent one, with help towards the rent coming from public funds (the taxpayer), the least one should do is pay it!!!!!!

If you don't pay it what alternative is there other than eviction?

Should pensioners who are receiving less in state pension, that they have paid for over many years, pay to help those on higher incomes (benefits) who refuse to pay their fair share?

I say no, everybody should pay their way in this life unless there are very good reasons why they should receive help and we all know that that in such cases help is always forthcoming. Nobody minds helping genuine disability claimants, but everybody hates helping those who are feckless and idle. In particular most people hate subsidising those who receive housing benefit but fail to use the money received to pay for it and end up in arrears.

It is not forcing people out of their homes all they have to do is pay the requested rent and there won't be a problem. Anybody who does not pay the rent bill is forcing the council or housing organisation to ask them to move elsewhere. Seems fair enough to me.

After all they are receiving financial help from the taxpayers, not the government, so why not just cough up and be content?

No!

I guess you're referring to this "story":

http://news.sky.com/story/1089813/bedroom-tax-blamed-for-womans-suicide

A story with plenty of holes.

Such as she was disabled but never registered so never applied for any benefits, which would have covered this.

Or, the bungalow she was offered as an alternative was turned down because it was SIX miles away from her friends and family.

Friends and family, including her two children, who couldn't even be bothered to scrape the £20 a week needed to help their mum out.

There are hundreds of 'Stephanies'

Re. disability- perhaps she had been to an ATOS Miracle Centre?! Even if she got Disability it should not have to be used [i][/i]to pay rent

Six miles is a long way from support system without a car

Not really, six miles is insignificant if you are being offered a new and more suitable home which you don't have to either buy or rent because it is all provided by the taxpayers who may actually be in receipt of far less than she! Like many pensioners of course!!!

When the referee calls up a foul in the penalty area he awards a penalty. Nothing to do with an under occupancy assessment.

yes