To think this is another new evil low of the tories

[seagazer]

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/housing-benefit-young-people-18-21-scrapped-universal-credit-exemptions-a7610581.html
But on the other hand corporation tax is being lowered.

[ilovesooty]

It isn't new. It's Osborne's legacy and something that they were forced to abandon previously . I think the government is hoping that with so much other stuff going on they can bury this.

[seagazer]

It's unbelievable that they'd consider doing this, i've never known as many homeless on the streets as there are now. I hope this plan backfires on them in a massive way.

[Sweets101]

It's fucking ridiculous, it shouldn't be allowed to go through. But, most 18-21 yr Olds who need this support are unlikely to have a lot of support in their lives, so whose going to kick up a fuss about it for them? It's an easy group for them to target so they have. It's sickening.

[StumblyMonkey]

I think this is awful. Those living away from home at this age (and not at uni, etc) are likely to be in a very vulnerable situation, possibly escaping abuse and possibly with mental health issues.

I have never been active in politics before but the Tories have motivated me to sign up to the Lib Dems (since Labour are in disarray).

[Becca19962014]

Actually it's 18-25s who aren't allowed housing benefit under universal credit. It's already been rolled out in my county to that group and housing benefit is zero. I know people who are effected by it and are over 21 - the advice being get a job or go back to your parents (and if you cannot go back to parents you must provide proof and evidence of why not).

There are a lot of nasties in universal credit which people are burying their heads in the sand over and will get a very nasty shock when it begins to apply to them - especially disabled people.

[Sweets101]

There are a lot of nasties in universal credit which people are burying their heads in the sand over
Completely agree.

[Becca19962014]

25-35 people get enough for a room in a shared house, after 35 a flat. It's rediculous, it wasn't ever blocked under universal credit - only under the previous benefit claims. Sneaky bastards.

[Becca19962014]

My comment about people burying their heads in the sand was more blunt than I intended, but there are a lot of things that people think the tories backed down over but exist in universal credit, which was buried under a lot of spin at the time.

[Sweets101]

No it wasn't blunt, fairly accurate. They are targeting the easy targets

[SukeyTakeItOffAgain]

I was introduced to our Tory MP at a do last night. He was new in 2015 and has voted for every single one of their proposals since then. In the meantime he is concerning himself with trying to propose a bill to cull herring gulls.

Priorities, priorities...

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I thought this was going to be about them reducing Bereavement Benefit

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/03/bereavement-benefits-cut-to-help-people-readjust-to-life-as-single-parents

[Sweets101]

The bereavement benefit was posted about not long ago, a lot of people were in favour.

[seagazer]

Referring to the bereavment link above...."A Conservative minister has defended a decision to reduce benefits paid to widows and widowers with young children by claiming the old system risked stopping people from “readjusting” to life as a single parent"
By that token then why not you tories have your very very generous "expenses" allowance reduced so it won't be too hard to "readjust" to the real world when you leave politics. What a bunch of greedy hypocritical fuckers.

[DJBaggySmalls]

The reason this was vetoed before was because of young people leaving care. I dont know how they can sleep at night.

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

Absolutely bastards

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

And those who vote for them too.

[DJBaggySmalls]

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve
And those who vote for them too.

Couldnt agree more. I am so sick of seeing people twitter 'O but I didnt vote for this!' Yes you absolutely did.

[ThoraGruntwhistle]

It baffles me how ordinary people of working age can still say they're intending to vote for them. It is abundantly clear that they will only do things that benefit rich people and pensioners, because they don't want to lose those votes. But people on average salaries, young people, people who claim any kind of benefits (including tax credits), disabled people, anyone who can't afford to pay for private healthcare, parents etc.. how can they think continuing to vote for this shower of arseholes is the best option for them? I get that Labour are in a shambles but keeping the Tories in for the next X number of years....I don't get it. And yet you see voting intention polls and it's 42% Conservative.

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

Ugh the "I didn't vote for this!" deflections

If you voted for the Tories, you voted to strip the most vulnerable members of society of the help they desperately need, with no plan in place to help them improve their situation. This is what you voted for.

[makeourfuture]

And those who vote for them too.

Complicit.

[Sweets101]

People have bought into the party line and believe they and those they care about won't be effected. Or maybe if they are they think that's OK as they are part of the 'undeserving' too. A lot of people just don't care.

[Astro55]

The main reason they target the young is because the young don't vote! They are not the audience the politicians - they want to keep 'their' voters happy - older generation.

Nothing will change until they step up and be heard - all of them - weathers that's university fees /training / housing or any other list of requirements

I don't agree with this policy - but you need to get them to vote - loud and clear

[GraceGrape]

Unfortunately, the majority of young people who need this benefit will be seen by most Tory voters as "feckless scroungers" so they won't give a toss.

[HelenaDove]

Im sickened that they are going ahead with this. I live in a small town and the amount of homeless ppl on the street is increasing.

Thora there is a clause in Universal Credit that affects age gap pensioner couples. Im 23 years younger than DH and for the purpose of UC he will be classed as working age until he is 90 because you both have to be over pension age.

They are also starting to transfer the over 65s from DLA over to PIP.

But im sure the MN myth that pensioners are being left alone will keep being repeated on threads for some time to come yet.

[Becca19962014]

helena there's a lot of nasty things in universal credit, when they were applied to current benefits people did campaign but either didn't notice that they were applied to universal credits or thought universal credit wouldn't happen (I know a lot in the second group). It saves a huge amount with its cuts, the government were never going to do away with it.

Another MN myth - housing benefit will continue for social housing or housing associations. It will not. Everyone must apply for local housing allowance, because the low rents are then used in the calculation to keep local housing allowance at the lowest third for all properties, slashing the bill.

Disabled people will be required to do workfare (some areas already do this) and will lose out on disability premiums (about £30 a week). Terminally ill and don't die by the date on the form? You cannot appeal and get it restarted because you are no longer deemed terminally ill.

Oh and that's not forgetting the five week gap for it to start being paid.