Why is the benefit cap still in place?

[Mrsbeanz]

Why haven't the government scrapped the benefit cap as it was introduced to get people into work. Why at a time when people are losing jobs and finding it hard to find work, and many being told they shouldn't go to work should people still be capped? It just forces people into.poverty and homelessness. Especially since rents are high and a housing crisis

I have a large flat screen tv. It’s not mine though so don’t worry

Unfortunately an abusive relationship so no child maintenance.

The things that gets to me is that it would be far easier to pick this in and get a job on a checkout. The age I am that would likely be it, unlikely career progression, low wage. Instead I am working my bollocks off to get a qualification which will eventually lead me to work for the NHS. Equally poor wage but an example to my children and giving back to the public. Which is preferable? Get back to work at any cost? Probably rely on benefit tips ups for the rest of my life, children following the same path. Or, some short term help to allow me to give back (in terms of service and taxes) and hopefully inspiring my children to do more...?

Totally agree with you Dallerup. I think it's great you donate to the foodbank but wish we didn't need them in such a wealthy country, sadly I think things like the cap contribute to why they exist.

Does everyone agree that during this pandemic , where record numbers of people are losing their jobs, where businesses have to close, where industries have just stopped or forced to stop that there should be no benefit cap. What annoys me most about it is it might look like someone is getting a decent amount of money but it's actually going on high rents. Rents are very high in many places and areas. I know that councils are housing homeless families in expensive and bad quality temporary accommodation and they are still capped and end up at struggling because so much goes on rent. Its not always a choice when it comes to where someone lives. If jobs and affordable housing were easily available and accessible the cap would make sense,.but they aren't especially not now

So we should just punish everyone on benefits just in case a few of them don't spend it exactly how you think they should

People on benefits need to be monitered a bit closer that is all.

So poor people should only be allowed to live in certain areas of the country

I would not go that far at the moment. But your suggestion might be something worth considering.

@JellyBabiesFan

So poor people should only be allowed to live in certain areas of the country

I would not go that far at the moment. But your suggestion might be something worth considering.

Haha. Good one.

@JellyBabiesFan People on benefits need to be monitered a bit closer that is all

Would you like us tagged? Bank statements analysed monthly? Weekly home visits to check for sky tv?

It is not fair for people on benefits to be given more than those who work a full 40 hour week or more on minimum wage. Personally I don't agree that it is fair to pay stupidly high housing benefits to people either. £1400 per month is too high. There should be a firm cap on housing benefit of say £800 pcm if in private rentals. People on housing benefit should have to move to a cheaper area. I could not afford to live in London yet I have to pay taxes to subsidise some of those on benefits that do. I have a comfortable lifestyle where I live in Midlands and housing in North is cheaper again. In these areas you can privately rent a decent 3 bedroom house for between £650-750 pcm. My family live in South but I had to move to get a better lifestyle. As long as those on benefits are given these large amounts for housing they have no incentive to move to a cheaper area. If they had to pay the money themselves they would consider moving for a better lifestyle. As a country we now owe so much money spent over pandemic. I really do hope Sunak, stops spending like there is no tomorrow. I worry our children and grandchildren will end up paying for it.

@JellyBabiesFan I would not go that far at the moment. But your suggestion might be something worth considering

Ooh lovely, all grouped together in a little caravan park where you don't have to see them? Maybe some barbed wire fencing and bread and water dropped off a couple of times a week so you don't have to encounter any scroungers in Waitrose? Not that we should be shopping in Waitrose of course

@Dallerup, it is not how people chose to spend their benefits that is a problem, it is the housing element that is not fit for purpose in my opinion. There should be more social housing owned by councils where people can be housed, but not sold off to individuals. If people want to buy their own home they should save a deposit and pay full market value. Social housing should be for those that need it to live in, not to buy cheaply then sell off making huge profit.

@caringcarer £800pcm??? Where I am (SE admittedly but not London) that would be a one bedroom flat if you're lucky! No I'm bloody not going to move to the midlands, change my job, uproot my kids (away from their dad who would hit the fucking roof if I tried!), spend what little savings I have on another deposit and first months rent, pay for removals (can't drive). Try peeking into the real world for half a second.

Other problems need to be fixed FIRST before we punish people on benefits. Yes to more social housing but get that in place FIRST. Stop punishing people for previous (and current) governments' mistakes or the circumstances of their parents or abusive ex partners. Make it so that people are able to move off benefits BEFORE snatching that much needed life line away

@caringcarer

It is not fair for people on benefits to be given more than those who work a full 40 hour week or more on minimum wage. Personally I don't agree that it is fair to pay stupidly high housing benefits to people either. £1400 per month is too high. There should be a firm cap on housing benefit of say £800 pcm if in private rentals. People on housing benefit should have to move to a cheaper area. I could not afford to live in London yet I have to pay taxes to subsidise some of those on benefits that do. I have a comfortable lifestyle where I live in Midlands and housing in North is cheaper again. In these areas you can privately rent a decent 3 bedroom house for between £650-750 pcm. My family live in South but I had to move to get a better lifestyle. As long as those on benefits are given these large amounts for housing they have no incentive to move to a cheaper area. If they had to pay the money themselves they would consider moving for a better lifestyle. As a country we now owe so much money spent over pandemic. I really do hope Sunak, stops spending like there is no tomorrow. I worry our children and grandchildren will end up paying for it.

Or maybe landlords should be capped on how much rent they can charge. Private rentals are disgustingly high.

I know there are many very deserving benefits claimsnts, who absolutely need help. Unfortunately I know some too who can't be bothered to work at all, despite having secondary age children, it really pisses me off when I see them swanning around getting hair extensions and moaning about their benefits not covering their lifestyle choices, needing credit cards etc.

I suppose you can't force people to work.

As an example the food bank that I donate to (and used to volunteer at) understand that giving people a bag of food each week isn't going to change anything in the long term. They arrange for money advice services to come and give advice, a local energy charity to come and advise on reducing energy costs/switching suppliers, a mental health charity comes in once a month, local adult learning centres pop in. Even the local MP has come and sat in to listen to people and do what he can to help.

It's an all round approach to finding individual causes of hardship and giving people the tools they need to break out of the cycle and even a handhold while doing it. And STILL supporting them with a good parcel while they navigate that. Instead of constantly papering over the cracks we need to rebuild the walls. Yes, it'll cost more short term but the long term saving should be worth it.

And there endeth the sermon

@HotCrossFun1 And they are the minority. I highly doubt the swanned into the job centre and said they can't be bothered to work. There will be another reason (or they're very convincingly faking job searches which isn't as easy to do as it used to be but, granted, not impossible) they're entitled to benefits. It takes more bloody effort to con the benefit system than a full time job half the time!

Like I've been saying, it's not a fair system. Some people get too much (me), some people don't get enough (many of my clients) and some people just need help budgeting what they get.

@caringcarer

It is not fair for people on benefits to be given more than those who work a full 40 hour week or more on minimum wage. Personally I don't agree that it is fair to pay stupidly high housing benefits to people either. £1400 per month is too high. There should be a firm cap on housing benefit of say £800 pcm if in private rentals. People on housing benefit should have to move to a cheaper area. I could not afford to live in London yet I have to pay taxes to subsidise some of those on benefits that do. I have a comfortable lifestyle where I live in Midlands and housing in North is cheaper again. In these areas you can privately rent a decent 3 bedroom house for between £650-750 pcm. My family live in South but I had to move to get a better lifestyle. As long as those on benefits are given these large amounts for housing they have no incentive to move to a cheaper area. If they had to pay the money themselves they would consider moving for a better lifestyle. As a country we now owe so much money spent over pandemic. I really do hope Sunak, stops spending like there is no tomorrow. I worry our children and grandchildren will end up paying for it.

I’m in the North. Some people have moved out of London for various reasons around cost. I think all private landlords have cottoned on to the fact that people are doing this and taking advantage and putting private rents up. I do not live in private housing however you won’t be living in any type of luxury property even in the North for £650 a month gone are those days. Yes you get more for your money but it’s not how you have put it I glance the houses in the private sector and to get a decent area 3 bed you would be spending £1000+ easily. The problem is more social housing needs to be built

more social housing needs to be built

Agreed and maybe if landlords weren't allowed to charge ridiculous rents we'd have less of them doing it just for profit (I don't begrudge buying a second property as an investment and renting it out if you're able to but not if it's taking the piss with rent) and there would be more housing available to be turned into social
Housing. Some money also needs to be spent in making derelict buildings habitable and using those too. There's a block near me that used to be flats 20 years ago but is now boarded up and unused. That's property that could either be renovated or demolished and rebuilt NOT for more luxury housing to be used as 2nd homes but for genuinely affordable housing

@Dallerup it’s true I agree. The government are at fault. Even the council houses where is the money going? Because a lot of the time bathrooms and kitchens often need replacing and general up keep and they do not do this but yet they are getting the rents. It’s outrageous.

I let out several houses. They are 2 and 3 bedroomed. They all have decent kitchens. 3 bedrooms have washing machine with fast spin speeds, tumble dryers with condenser, Rangemastet large cookers, American fridge freezer and dishwasher. Rooms are good sized and any faults reported dealt with quickly and all with gardens. I charge between £675-£730. 2 bedrooms all have fast speed washing machines, cookers and fridge freezers and one has a tumble dryer with condenser. In process of upgrading. Also have gardens and tents between £600-675. I know I could charge more but rentals all cover repayment mortgages and expenses such as gas,energy and electrical certificates and I do make some profit. We have friends who rent a 3 bedroom house in North for £550pcm with garden. They have been there for 14 years and the longer a good tenant stays Insitu they have less rent increases. I only put up my rents by 3 or 4 percent every 2-4 years. It is possible to get s decent rental for less. I che led on Rightmove and 3 bedroomed rentals here going between £695 and £875.

@user1465423698

So disabled people should be left without enough money to heat their homes or pay their rent, because some other people feel jealous if the disabled people have enough money to live a worthwhile life?

What is not right is for people to be impoverished deliberately.

The cost of poverty, malnourishment, poor health, emergency housing, etc is far greater than just covering the cost of people's housing and living needs.

We can afford it. We choose not to. Because "why should they have something I don't" apparently.

Families with a person claiming a disability benefit are exempt from the benefit cap.

@Ylvamoon

I think if benefits are the sole income, the benefits cap is still justified. Why should people who are able to work, have a higher income than people who do work?

On the other hand, I agree that the cap should be scrapped or set higher for people who need benefits as a top up. That or get a decent, livable NMW for working people.

Families where one adult is working at least 16 hours a week or two adults working at least 24 hours a week in total are exempt from the benefit cap.

@Mandalakia

I thought it had been scrapped. The minimum income floor has.

Only temporarily. It will be reintroduced sooner or later.

@Attippingpoint

I am a single parent with 3 children. Studying to eventually work for the NHS. My rent is £1400 per month. My children share a bedroom. I get £1434 per month universal credit because of the benefit cap.

Nobody else in any circumstances would expect to be paid £1400 in benefit to support them to study full time. That is what student finance is for.

I really don't understand either L's or councils not maintaining and upgrading property as it won't retain its value of allowed to go to ruin. In summer I am having decking put into the first 3 bed garden and then will rotate around other properties untill all upgraded. I have had 2 new kitchens put in this year. I would welcome a register for good LL who invest in the upkeep of their properties.

@caringcarer Do you allow tenants claiming benefits to rent your properties?

@Reachersloveinterest Families where one adult is working at least 16 hours a week or two adults working at least 24 hours a week in total are exempt from the benefit cap.

Until furlough, parental leave or sickness hits