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

Why can you not force people to work unless they’re disabled ? Lots of people don’t want to work if they are only slightly worse off on benefits . I can’t say I blame them . In their situation I would be tempted to do the same .
They don’t see working as earning eg £1300 . They calculate their benefits and think they’re working for £200 a month . I’ve read countless threads on here where someone asks if they should / should have to go to work for £200 a month .
If they had to ask a tax payer for the money directly I wonder would they be so brazen ?

A huge problem with the benefit system is those pretending to live alone when they live with and have a child / children with a long term partner . They’re the ones who give two addresses to their children’s school . They never show their partner ( who lives with his mum 😂🤔) on social media . The dad never collects the children from school . They’re playing the system and the genuine claimants are suffering because of them . It’s a complete mess and I’m not surprised the cap has been applauded by so many . Sky is worth the money for those on benefits or on limited income . When you don’t have the money to have lots of days out then tv is often your only form
Of entertainment.

A huge problem with the benefit system is those pretending to live alone when they live with and have a child / children with a long term partner

A huge problem? Is it really a huge problem or have you just heard through a friend of a friend that a few people local to you are doing this?

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

^ This

We need to have a fair rent system. The main issue with benefits is the cost of housing. I'm pretty sure that housing costs (for those on benefits and those working at lower wage levels) is the fundamental cause of child poverty. Families can't afford to live at a basic level due to rent - which has to be paid to keep a roof over their heads - so children go without and/or parents get into spiraling debt.

Depends how much tax you fancy paying really.

If landlords were capped on rent they can charge, this problem was largely go away. Private energy companies are capped. Private train companies are capped on annual increases. Give landlords who opt into a Rent Control system some tax breaks and incentives. I live in zone 2 and am shocked there's a poster on here paying £1400 for a 2 bedroom apartment while on benefits.

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.

Student loans count as income toward your UC entitlement.

No, I rent to couples or families where both parents work at least at the point they rent the property. I do appreciate that circumstances can change though. I have up to this point never let to people who did not work. I have been letting property for about 14 years now. I started with one property and now have 6 to let in UK. I make most money from appreciation of property over time as they are all repayment mortgages and I overpay on one whilst rates are so low. They are all on lifetime tracker mortgages.

@caringcarer So someone on benefits couldn't move from a more expensive area into one of your more reasonably priced properties? So would you agree that all these posters saying that benefits claimants (the majority of whom do actually work and just claim top up benefits) aren't quite grasping the realities of peoples' situations?

all grouped together in a little caravan park where you don't have to see them

What do you have against caravans? Are you against travellers too? Would not surprise me.

Its funny how earlier in the year we were all out clapping for all these low waged 'essential & critical' workers...many will have been on top up benefits. For those saying poor people need to move to cheaper areas...great, and when they do...hope you don't intend to go to a supermarket, the staff there will be on top ups if they have family, don't pop into B&Q to get your decorating stuff...same there...oh, don't get old or infirm, those pesky carers..they will be on top ups..oh, don't go to the hospital...nurses, porters, admin staff...oh, need a cleaner? Forget it unless you fancy paying a lot more...if they all move who does the 'entry level' (ludicrous name when people are often on those wages for life!) jobs? Maybe address companies making huge profits but paying NMW or just above. If they cant afford proper wages they are not viable business models.

The biggest problem is housing costs and low wages...if you put up NMW everyone elses wages increase to keep the differential. It needs mass council house building to drop housing costs for lower wage earners.
Yes to NRP paying their way and supporting DC but to say they shouldnt get mortgages etc is daft, rents are often higher than a mortgage. They need decent accomodation for contact. Under 35 can only get a room if they are on low income and need rebates. That in its self punishes children of low income NRP. An uninterested, uninvolved NRP should be the ones persued.

I really don’t see why as someone who lives in a cheaper area because that’s all I can afford should pay taxes to fund people living in more expensive areas because that is where they want to live/have grown up/ whatever. We don't all get to live in our hometowns. Many have to move for work or to be able to buy a bigger house.
But people that are claiming benefits insist the must stay in the area, even though the rents might be astronomical there. Uh no. That’s their choice. They shouldn’t get more money for it.

@Dallerup, actually I think families where both parents work full time and have children need a bit of a break. I now I could charge more because one 2 bedroomed property I rent out to a couple with two small children, one who is in nursery I charge £650 and the house next door has recently been rented out and they told me it rented for £775. They have already asked me when one of my 3 bedroom ones comes empty can they have it. Most of my tentants tend to stay a long time. I have had one couple with no children in a 2 bedroom house for 11 years now. I have only increased their rent 3 times during this time. They are good tenants and look after the property and inform me immediately if there is any problem including if they are going on holiday for over 14 days. Several tenants save whilst they rent with me and then go on to buy their own homes. I have been invited to the wedding of one pair of tenants and always give a bottle of champagne for a wedding, birth of child and gift for baby too or when they buy their own property. During first lockdown when one tenant could not work due to Covid in early March, before we heard about furlough I suggested he pay half rent until he could work again. Then we heard about furlough a few days later and he text me to say he would be able to pay full rent now as could be furloughed.

Because they can’t afford to be handing more out . And they don’t want to encourage people to have more children

@JellyBabiesFan What on earth have I said to convince you that I'm prejudiced against anyone? Other than the caravan park thing, I can see now how that came across. To be honest I was just picturing anyone where you could cram lots of people in together with as little space as possible.

Quite like a caravan tbh, I spent a lot of holidays at Haven as a kid and have taken mine there a couple of times

Because they can’t afford to be handing more out . And they don’t want to encourage people to have more children

This with bells on. How many people actually consider if they can afford children before popping them out?

I would love to have an Aston Martin on the drive but I dont have the £100k that they cost.

@carycy, I absolutely agree with you on this. If people don't work they should be open to move to pay cheaper rent. I understand if a person works they don't want to move as they would lose their job, that is reasonable but if people don't work, believe the government should consider offering a standard rent allowance and if that does not cover rents in South East or London then people should be given moving expenses to move to a cheaper area, where they might also find a job.

[quote caringcarer]@carycy, I absolutely agree with you on this. If people don't work they should be open to move to pay cheaper rent. I understand if a person works they don't want to move as they would lose their job, that is reasonable but if people don't work, believe the government should consider offering a standard rent allowance and if that does not cover rents in South East or London then people should be given moving expenses to move to a cheaper area, where they might also find a job.[/quote]
Places that are usually cheap are so often because they have limited employment possibilities.

Because they can’t afford to be handing more out . And they don’t want to encourage people to have more children

Bollocks can't they! They can find the money quick enough when it's something they want or a buddy needs bailing out. And yet I'm STILL not saying benefits need to be increased. In fact less people (in the long run, once the roots causes have been sorted) should be on benefits.

@caringcarer I'm not casting aspersions on you personally as a landlord (in fact you sound awesome, I wish my scummy landlord was half as good as you sound). It's the fact that so many properties are owned by landlords who won't (or, to be fair, for now can't) rent to benefit claimants that makes it that much harder for people to just up and move.

30 years ago when my Mum was on benefits and renting she would get the deposit back on the day we moved out (private tenancies were less secure in some ways then so we moved more than was ideal) and the new place wouldn't need the deposit until we were literally picking up the keys. Now a lot of places want the deposit in advance so it can be logged with an agency but you don't get your old deposit back for at lease 2 weeks (3 months in my case last time!) Very few people on low incomes have enough in savings to cover this

Other than the caravan park thing, I can see now how that came across

Ok thats alright but yes just how it came over. I know the hard time some of them can get even though the ones I have met are lovely but anyway lets not go off topic. No harm done

Yes Haven was nice. So many happy memories

@JellyBabiesFan Still off topic but when I was younger we lived next door to some travellers (they were in caravans in a field next to out flat but it seemed to be a semi permanent settlement). I was over there all the time playing with the kids and the parents were amazing. Would've give you not only the shirt off their back but a couple off the line too if they though it would help. As with any group of people you get a few bad eggs but they're always the ones dragged onto Ch4 for 'entertainment' and give everyone else a bad name!

@dallerup, I don't object to people claiming top ups if one person working 40 hours each week. I object to those who refuse to work at all. I feel sorry that government don't pay less on housing benefits and more on childcare so parents can work. I think it is shocking that parents have to pay almost £2k a month so their child can go to nursery and they can work.

@rawalpindithelabrador, there are loads of jobs advertised near to me in Midlands. There is always agency work available too. I know a few people who lost their job in the pandemic and all have new jobs now.

@Dallerup

Oh I agree with you, there are bad eggs in all walks of life and the media often highlight those people which is not fair on the others. It makes me sad.

it's not at all nice how some TV shows use some peoples sad situations to entertain others. Its a sad world we live in :(

Anyway happy thoughts and time for a small glass of wine