Demonizing Benefit Claiments

nailit | 21:07 Wed 26th Nov 2014 | ChatterBank

36 Answers

here we go again, Benefits Britain, ch 5.
All benefits claiments are spongers.
God, give me a break.

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SirOracle

Tambo. I know we are all different,but I cannot but feel every sympathy for someone having to try to exist on £70 per week.

The man only had ONE dog not two as you seem to think.

A little amount of human understanding at the less able people in our society would not go amiss in my opinion.

hc4361

SirOracle, that woman was wholly incorrect in her claim that under 70sq feet don't count.

"The Federation is aware of a rumour circulating on facebook and elsewhere that bedrooms under 70 sq ft should not be counted for the purposes of the social housing size criteria for claimants of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. This rumour is incorrect. It appears to be based on a misreading of the space standards set out in the Housing Act 1985 for the purpose of defining statutory overcrowding."

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/policy-news/social-housing-size-criteria-and-statutory-overcrowding/

That nonsense about room for 5 pieces of furniture including a chair and table in every bedroom is also wrong.

hc4361

I forgot to say their water rates are also paid for them.

Rent: £70
Council Tax: £20
Water Rates: £8
Prescriptions: £8 (based on the cost of pre-paid 12 month)

That comes to about £175 a week with the cash they get and I have been modest with the cost of rent.

jackthehat

As has been discussed before the amount of £70 (ish) per week is the amount of cash they receive 'in-hand', and everything (including any amount decided as an 'extra-bedroom supplement) has to be paid out of that.

Retrochic

you beat me to it hc4361 in Liverpool I would think the rent allowance would have to be over £100 per week. No I could not live on that per week but don't have to, and if I did would get a job -any job PDQ

Retrochic

jackthehat you are incorrect. Benefit claimants get all their benefit payments as 'cash' (into the post office account or similar). They have to pay rent out of it, but the payment includes it. Their rent payments no longer go directly to the landlord which is why so many are now in arrears as they spend it instead of giving it to pay the rent. The other day a girl in front of me at P.O., single mother with child of school age, was getting her fortnightly benefits -over £600 I saw the cashier count it out and later confided it was benefits ( very small village post office yes I know she shouldn't have but girl was very rude on mobile phone did not say thank you and cashier was miffed)

hc4361

Don't forget they have none of the costs associated with going to work - travel either by car or public transport; clothing - many people buy clothes and shoes for work they wouldn't wear anywhere else; lunches and refreshments; birthday/retirement/new baby/get better soon collections.

I wouldn't try to estimate that as there are too many variables.

Svejk

And 12 pints of lager on the way home.

hc4361

Retrochic, those renting from the council don't get the rent money, it is paid directly to the council, as is the council tax.

Bedroom tax has to be paid out of their 'in hand' income.

"Housing Benefit is paid by your council as follows:

council tenants - into your rent account (you won’t receive the money)
private tenants - into your bank or building society account (rarely by cheque)"

https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/what-youll-get

jackthehat

No, Retrochic, I'm not incorrect.
My use of the phrase 'in hand' was to try and separate the Full amount of benefit payable for any claimant, from the actual money they can put in their wallet/purse from which to buy whatever they require for that week/fortnight.