"bedroom Tax" - Why......

[ToraToraTora]

....has it picked up this annoying and innacurate name? It's not a tax is it?

[THEMOTLEY1]

It makes it much easier to bash the government if you call it a tax!

[ladybirder]

Exactly. That's the reason it got the label in the first place.

[Mamyalynne]

Unlike the window/hearth taxes of old, you cannot brick up your bedrooms and say 'there, they have gone', it is a charge for under occupancy that has been rushed in.

[sebhfhion]

No its not a Tax its a reduction in benefit - thats the key word -a benefit not a right. Many people who bring up families retire and find through no fault of their own they have to downsize as large houses cost more to run. They have to make that decision so why should someone in Social housing not be prepared to do the same? OAP's are exempt so are people with children in the armed forces and certain people who need full time carers. Its not fair that a single person should have a three bedroom house when some families are squashed into tiny flats with three or four children. Sometimes you just have to suck it up.

[Mamyalynne]

Which the majority will do , suck it up and pay the difference or go into private rented smaller accommodation with a higher rent.

[sebhfhion]

Are the government allowing people to find more suitable accommodation while still retaining their full benefit?

[Mamyalynne]

No

[ladybirder]

Yes, but as I said before, if it allows a family with children to come out of some expensive B&B hovel the that's good isn't it?

[Mamyalynne]

If we are talking of a singleton rattling around in a large three bedder then I do agree - but someone with a small spare room which enables them to have a grandchild or indeed their own child to stay now and then, then I disagree.

I would hate to see the day when all people above a certain age are shuffled into one bed boxes unable to have family round,,,,yes I do appreciate the huge lack of social housing, that is a whole bigger debate.

[pdust]

who gives a flying feck what it's called

totally agree em

[ladybirder]

Well I live in a one bedroom "box". I'd like to have bought something bigger but I couldn't afford it. I bought a sofa bed for visitors (me on the sofabed them in my bed).

[Mamyalynne]

Fair enough.

[ladybirder]

Oh and please don't feel sorry for me, I'm fine and I didn't "shuffle" in, I can still walk.

[mikey4444]

Its a disgraceful attack on mostly older people. But hey, we shouldn't be too surprised, as this is coming from a Government that has sacked most of the disabled people who used to work for Remploy, a truly abominable act of sheer spitefulness.

[ladybirder]

No it's not! It doesn't affect OAPs.

[zebo]

"Tax" is a point-scoring politically motivated inaccuracy, so beloved of those in search of an easy label.
Those in receipt of Housing Benefit are assessed and paid in relation to their needs, ie the number of people living there. Why shuld those in social housing expect to be treated differently/
The real problem is, like most legislation by whatever party, that it was rushed through without enough consultation and there should have been a longer period to allow people to move into smaller properties.

[Mamyalynne]

So can I , just - I did not use it in that context , rather more fuguratively , am not sure I implied that I felt sorry for you at all.

I am sure my four grandchildren would love a big bed share if I downsized, just like I and my siblings did at my Grandma's. However some over 55 housing complexes do not allow young children overnighting, yet another isolation of the family, still best just suck it up.

[Mamyalynne]

oops * Figuratively'

[naomi24]

//I'd like to have bought something bigger but I couldn't afford it. //

Ladybirder bought her home and accepts that she has to live within her means - which is precisely what those who want to continue to receive money from the public purse to enable them to inhabit larger homes than they need are reluctant to do.

[ladybirder]

Well I swear the stairs get steeper every day mamyalynne:-)

I'm not in an over 55's complex, I'm not in any complex. In fact I'm the oldest in the building. All these young men keep me young, even though they're mostly gay. I don't want to be surrounded by people like me!