THC there was a programme about the HB cuts on Radio 4 the other day.
They said the rises in concil house rents would not affect those on HB but would push a lot of working low income people just out of the HB bracket into arrears and then into homeless accomodation which costs the state loads.
The policy will cost a fortune but in ways spread out so it is ahrd to see: push carer from cared for so SD has to pick up cost: pusj low income workers away from their work so tehyc annot afford to do the job any mroe- there were two stories I read, an interesting justaposition, about cuts to HB for those living in inner Bristol pushing essential low paid workers out of the area- and an end to night buses in Bristol. I wonder who is supposed to do the late night care shifts now, the cleaning, the pub shifts?
People forced away from families who help with childcare and therefore unable to work. get a childminder / nursery? Around here there's a 6 mnth wait (only nt kids accepted) and no shift cover at all, how many low income workers actually do 8 - 6 days I wonder? 12 hour 4on 4off more common lcoally, or those shifts where you do a run of earlies 6 - 2 or lates 2 - 10: notexactly going to help single aprents or thsoe married to carers the sick or disabled into work is it?
I am all for making those who can work do so (when there are enough jobs)- this seems to take away people's opportunities. Which is dumb.
Where nobody works or ahs done for a long time (we all know the redundancy rates these days) and nobody has a disability or illness or caring role, well maybe there's no reason for them to stay where they are, but non eof this is allowed for: it's totally unsubtle, and will cause misery and a reduction in life chances.
Also they are renting amss amounts of B&B accom for teh predicted homeless famillies: will there be enough services in those areas (Maraget etc IIRC) to cope? GP places, social service respite workers, school places, elderly care workers? Will the hospital waiting lists rise cope? of course not.
I think the stat is that 80% of people who claim HB are not unemployed (ie only 20% unemployed). that emans a hell of a lot of sick, disabled, carers and elderly people redistributed in some social experiemnt that will cost £££££££ more to the state, it is naive beyond measure.